The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has successfully secured court orders to freeze luxury assets belonging to businessman Thapelo Samuel Buthelezi. This decisive action is the latest development in a long-standing legal pursuit regarding unlawful and unconstitutional awarding of emergency medical services (EMS) tenders by the Free State Department of Health, which saw the provincial government pay out over R532 million to companies linked to Buthelezi.
Details of the asset freezing orders
The Special Tribunal has issued orders restricting Buthelezi from disposing of or encumbering specific properties. These include an upmarket residence in the Meyersdal Nature Estate in Alberton, Gauteng, and a 1,071-square-metre farm located in Parys, Free State. The latter, which is registered to Buthelezi EMS, was subject to an interdict granted by the Tribunal in January 2026.
These measures effectively prevent the sale, transfer, or mortgaging of the properties while the state seeks to recover misappropriated funds.
Background on the unlawful payments
The legal action follows a ruling that deemed the multi-million-rand tenders awarded to Buthelezi EMS and its affiliated entities as procedurally irregular. Investigations revealed that the Free State Department of Health transferred a staggering R532,789,770.12 to four companies controlled by the businessman. Consequently, the Special Tribunal ordered the repayment of these funds on 5 May 2025, specifically noting the following allocations:
The entity Buthelezi One Stop Emergency Med was ordered to repay R40,619,506.40, while Buthelezi One Stop EMS was directed to pay R4,739,819.04. Furthermore, Buthelezi EMS was ordered to pay R305,196,897.00, and B EMS was required to repay R182,233,548.12.
Non-compliance and contempt proceedings
Following the May 2025 order, the Tribunal mandated that Buthelezi EMS submit audited final statements and documentation to account for the contract funds within 45 days. However, the businessman failed to adhere to this requirement. Despite repeated reminders from the SIU and a virtual judicial case management meeting held on 12 September 2025, chaired by the President of the Special Tribunal, Margaret Victor, the compliance remained outstanding.
Buthelezi, while not disputing the existence of the court order, cited financial constraints and personal legal difficulties as reasons for his failure to comply, prompting the SIU to initiate formal contempt of court proceedings.
Mandate and future legal action
The investigation into these contracts was launched under Proclamation 42 of 2019. Operating under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU is tasked with recovering financial losses incurred by state institutions due to corruption, fraud, or maladministration. In addition to these ongoing civil recovery efforts, the SIU continues to refer any evidence of criminal activity to the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure full accountability and consequence management.