The SIU welcomed the tribunal’s latest order freezing an upmarket property in Meyersdal Nature Estate in Alberton, Gauteng, linked to Buthelezi EMS owner Thapelo Samuel Buthelezi. The order prevents the property from being sold, transferred, mortgaged, or otherwise dealt with pending further legal processes.

The latest order follows an earlier interdict granted in January this year involving a 1,071 m² farm at Parys in the Free State, registered under Buthelezi EMS, a company owned by Buthelezi.

The SIU said the freezing orders stem from findings that the Free State health department unlawfully awarded multimillion-rand tenders for inter-facility EMS services to Buthelezi EMS and affiliated companies.

SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the provincial health department paid more than R532m to four entities linked to Buthelezi through contracts that were later declared unlawful, procedurally irregular, and unconstitutional by the special tribunal.

The unit instituted civil proceedings to review and set aside the irregular contracts as part of efforts to recover state funds lost through corruption and maladministration, said Makgotho.

On 5 May 2025, the tribunal ordered repayment of funds unlawfully paid to the companies, including more than R305m paid to Buthelezi EMS, R182m to Buthelezi EMS, and millions more to Buthelezi One Stop Emergency Med and Buthelezi One Stop EMS.

The tribunal instructed Buthelezi EMS to submit audited financial statements within 45 days, detailing all expenses incurred, income received, and profits made through the contracts. However, the SIU said Buthelezi failed to comply despite several reminders and attempts by investigators to secure the required documentation.

#SIUWorkingForYou| SIU WELCOMES FREEZING OF LUXURY PROPERTY AND FARM LINKED TO UNLAWFUL R532 MILLION FREE STATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CONTRACTS
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) welcomes the Special Tribunal’s order to freeze upmarket property in Meyersdal Nature Estate,… pic.twitter.com/0vEXmoR3GD

— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) May 26, 2026

“Due to ongoing non-compliance with the May 2025 order, the SIU initiated contempt proceedings against Buthelezi,” Makgotho said.

In court papers, Buthelezi reportedly cited financial constraints, lack of legal representation, and practical difficulties as reasons for failing to comply. However, he did not dispute knowledge of the Tribunal’s order.

The SIU investigation was initiated under Proclamation 42 of 2019. Makgotho said the Tribunal orders form part of the SIU’s consequence management strategy aimed at recovering financial losses suffered by state institutions because of corruption and negligence.

The SIU also confirmed that any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during investigations is referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for possible prosecution.

OFM News reported in September 2022 that Buthelezi and his wife, Monica, appeared in court on fraud-related charges involving alleged false tax submissions to the South African Revenue Service between 2014 and 2019. The couple faces at least 95 counts and was released on R30,000 bail each.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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