SIU secures court order to freeze luxury property and Free State farm linked to R532 million EMS contracts

The Special Investigating Unit has secured a court order to freeze a luxury property and a Free State farm linked to businessman Thapelo Buthelezi, aiming to recover over R532 million from unlawful EMS contracts

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a court order to freeze a Gauteng luxury property and Free State farm linked to businessman Thapelo Buthelezi, in efforts to recover over R532 million from unlawful EMS contracts.

This comes after the Special Tribunal set aside the Free State Department of Health’s emergency medical services tenders awarded to companies linked to Buthelezi, finding the contracts unlawful, irregular, and unconstitutional, and ordering repayment of funds paid under the contracts.

According to the SIU, the move follows a May 5 2025, Special Tribunal order directing Buthelezi-linked entities to repay funds totalling more than R532 million and to submit audited financial statements within 45 days, which was not complied with.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a court order to freeze a Gauteng luxury property and Free State farm