The Special Investigating Unit has welcomed a Special Tribunal order freezing a luxury property in Meyersdal Nature Estate in Alberton, Gauteng, linked to businessman Thapelo Samuel Buthelezi over unlawful Free State emergency medical services contracts worth more than R532 million.
The order prevents Buthelezi from selling, transferring or mortgaging the property while investigations and recovery processes continue.
The move follows an earlier interdict granted in January 2026 against a farm in Parys, Free State, owned by Buthelezi EMS.
The SIU previously approached the Tribunal after the Free State Department of Health awarded irregular EMS tenders to companies linked to Buthelezi. The contracts were later declared unlawful, procedurally irregular and unconstitutional.
According to the SIU, the department paid more than R532 million to four entities linked to Buthelezi. In May 2025, the Tribunal ordered the repayment of the funds and instructed Buthelezi EMS to submit audited financial statements detailing profits and expenses linked to the contracts.
However, the SIU says Buthelezi failed to comply with the order despite repeated reminders, leading to contempt proceedings.
The anti-corruption unit says the freezing orders form part of efforts to recover state funds lost through corruption, fraud and maladministration.
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