SIU Welcomes Freezing of Luxury Properties Linked to R532 Million EMS Scandal
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a Special Tribunal order freezing a luxury property in Meyersdal Nature Estate, Alberton, belonging to businessman Thapelo Samuel Buthelezi. The order prohibits him from selling, transferring, or mortgaging the property.
The freeze stems from a R532 million emergency medical services (EMS) tender scandal involving the Free State Department of Health. The Tribunal declared the awarding of the tenders to Buthelezi’s companies as unlawful and unconstitutional. The department paid R532,789,770.12 to four Buthelezi-linked companies.
On 5 May 2025, the Tribunal ordered the repayment of these funds and demanded audited financial statements, but Buthelezi failed to comply despite SIU reminders. The SIU then initiated contempt proceedings. On 23 January 2026, after Buthelezi failed to appear in court, the Tribunal froze a farm in Parys, Free State, registered to Buthelezi EMS.
This is not his first legal trouble. In September 2022, Buthelezi, his wife, and his accountant faced 95 charges of fraud and tax violations. Between 2014 and 2019, they allegedly submitted nil tax returns while their companies received about R1 billion from the Free State health department, evading an estimated R132 million in taxes. SARS has since recovered roughly R100 million.
The SIU investigation was launched under Proclamation 42 of 2019. The SIU is empowered by Act 74 of 1996 to take civil action and refer criminal evidence to the National Prosecuting Authority.
