Special Investigating Unit- South Africa

30/10/2026

| SIU PURSUES FINDING EIGHT LUXURY CARS HANGWANI MAUMELA HAS ALLEGEDLY HIDDEN

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU)-appointed curator is pursuing information about a vehicle allegedly located at a property in Midrand, Johannesburg, in connection with the Tembisa Hospital investigation.

The operation follows information received through an anonymous whistleblower report alleging that a Bentley belonging to Mr Hangwani Morgan Maumela has been concealed at a property allegedly belonging to an associate. The team is currently at the premises to verify whether the vehicle is present.

There are eight cars still outstanding, including four Ferraris, three Porches and one Bentley.

The curator is acting in accordance with the two previous court orders to place the vehicles under the curator’s control.

The Special Tribunal order delivered in October 2025 directed “the Syndicate”, also referred to as “the Maumela Syndicate”, to make a full and frank written disclosure, under oath, of all property and/or assets – whether movable or immovable, corporeal or incorporeal – and all funds standing to their credit, including any debts or claims owing to them.

It also added that disclosure must cover all property and assets in respect of which the implicated respondents, or any of them, are registered or common-law owners, have beneficial ownership, or hold any right, title, interest or other real right.


The SIU is authorised by Proclamation 136 of 2023 to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of the Gauteng Department of Health and Tembisa Hospital.

Last year, the SIU obtained an order to preserve assets valued at R900 million linked to the “Maumela Syndicate”. The curator is actively tracing and preserving additional properties, assets and funds to give full effect to the preservation order, which is valued at R503 million.

Although the vehicle was not found on the property, the SIU will relentlessly pursue to find all eight vehicles as stipulated by the Special Tribunal order.

In terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU is empowered to obtain bank statements and cellphone records, search and seize evidence, and interrogate witnesses under oath as part of its investigations.

The SIU can also institute civil proceedings in the High Court or the Special Tribunal to recover losses suffered by the State and remedy any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations. Any evidence pointing to criminal conduct will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

29/10/2026

| Part of the SIU’s mandate is to recover any money and/or assets the State has lost due to corruption, maladministration and misconduct.

27/10/2026

| Beyond investigating maladministration and corruption, the SIU is mandated with recovering state funds that have been lost. Here is a list of the expertise we offer to the State to ensure we meet our mandate:

22/10/2026

| The SIU seeks to find candidates to fill the following vacancies:
Principal Forensic Lawyer X2 (Permanent)
Apply by: 06-11-2026
Location: Pretoria

Senior Manager: Infrastructure Management
Apply by: 06-11-2026
Location: Pretoria

Close Protector X3 (Fixed-term Contract: 3 Years)
Apply by: 30-10-2026
Location: Pretoria

Officer: Refreshments X1 (Permanent)
Apply by: 30-10-2026
Location: Cape Town
To apply, click on this link: https://siucareers.ci.hr/applicant/index.php

19/10/2026

| Want to report corruption that’s taking place in a Municipality, government department, or State entity to the SIU? Here's a guideline on what you need to provide us with when reporting corruption, fraud, malfeasance, and maladministration.

16/10/2026

| SIU SECURES ORDER FREEZING 3,5431-HECTARE FARM LINKED TO R13 MILLION UIF TERS FRAUD KINGPIN

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured an interim preservation order from the Special Tribunal freezing the 3,5431-hectare Ambleton Farm in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, linked to more than R13 million in unlawfully obtained Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) funds.

The order prohibits the UIF TER syndicate kingpin, Mr Nhlanipho Mngomezulu and entities linked to him, and anyone with knowledge of it, from selling, leasing, transferring, disposing of, or otherwise dealing with the farm. It takes immediate effect and remains in force pending the final determination of the matter and/or further civil proceedings instituted by the SIU.

The order follows an SIU investigation under Proclamation No. R8 of 2021, which uncovered a syndicate that defrauded the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Department of Employment and Labour of over R148 million through fraudulent TERS claims.
The SIU investigation also revealed that Mngomezulu’s company, Lubelo Hlomuka Holdings, trading as SA Scrum Assembly, unlawfully received approximately R15.9 million through the scheme.

Flatmont Enterprise (Pty) Ltd was among the companies that benefited, allegedly receiving more than R13 million with Mngomezulu’s assistance.

The SIU welcomes the Tribunal’s decision to preserve assets linked to the alleged fraud, pending further legal proceedings and potential recovery of public funds.

TERS was introduced to support businesses and workers affected by COVID-19 lockdowns. The investigation found that the syndicate submitted fraudulent claims using stolen personal details of fictitious, or “ghost”, employees, diverting funds from their intended beneficiaries.

The evidence shows that Mngomezulu was at the centre of the TERS fraud and recruited other participants to submit fraudulent claims in exchange for a share of the proceeds.

The SIU investigation also revealed that Mngomezulu’s company, Lubelo Hlomuka Holdings, trading as SA Scrum Assembly, unlawfully received approximately R15.9 million through the scheme.

Flatmont Enterprise (Pty) Ltd was among the companies that benefited, allegedly receiving more than R13 million with Mngomezulu’s assistance.

They fraudulently applied for TERS benefits for 659 purported Flatmont Enterprise employees and 85 purported employees of her other company, Ubuhle be Africa, despite the companies having only 45 and 12 legitimate employees, respectively.

On 21 January 2022, Flatmont Enterprise received two TERS payments of R1,393,728.65 and R532,655.97. Three days later, R800,000 was transferred to conveyancing attorneys handling the transfer of Ambleton Farm. Bank records linked the transaction to the purchase of the farm by SA Scrum Assembly owned by Mngomezulu, for R1.4 million.

In December 2025, the Tribunal granted a preservation order under case number GP31/2025, freezing assets linked to Mngomezulu, including properties in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, several vehicles, and bank accounts associated with him and SA Scrum Assembly.

In the same month, the Tribunal also granted an order temporarily freezing assets linked to Yolanda Mgobo, after it was found that she allegedly used proceeds linked to several entities for her personal benefit and that of her life partner, Hlalanathi Hopewell Mbangi, between 2020 and 2025. The assets included a Hyundai Tucson, a Ford Ranger, a Toyota Corolla, and properties in Knightswood, Uvongo and Scottburgh.

In September 2026, Jessica Tapu, Mgobo and Sipho Sokhela appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, arrested them.

Their arrests followed an SIU investigation into their alleged involvement in a R13 million TERS fraud syndicate. The trio faces extensive charges, including 40 counts of theft, 40 counts of fraud, money laundering, and contravening Section 5 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Act 121 of 1998.

They are expected to return to court on 3 December 2026 after their release on R10,000 bail.

The SIU remains committed to protecting public funds, holding those responsible for corruption accountable and recovering misappropriated resources for the benefit of all South Africans.

14/10/2026

| Resigning in the face of an investigation will not stop the SIU from doing its work.

12/10/2026

| Even in the event of someone’s death, the SIU will pursue those who have benefited from corruption and recover the money that the State has lost.

09/10/2026

| UPDATE: The SIU has secured a confirmation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze three properties and five vehicles linked to Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise CC and its owner, Ms Thabile Jacqueline Xaba.

The order, previously provisional, has now been confirmed. It follows an SIU investigation that found that Liyabongeka was unlawfully awarded a library construction tender in KZN. These assets will remain frozen until the main legal proceedings, in which the SIU aims to obtain a forfeiture order.

| SIU GRANTED ORDER TO FREEZE THREE PROPERTIES AND FIVE VEHICLES LINKED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LIBRARY IN KZN

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a provisional preservation order from the Special Tribunal, freezing three properties and five vehicles associated with Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise CC and its owner, Ms Thabile Jacqueline Xaba.

Xaba is a contractor appointed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (KZNDSAC) to construct a modular library in Ntunjambili, located in the rural Maphumulo Local Municipality within the iLembe District Municipality.

The order interdicts and restricts Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise and Xaba, and anyone with knowledge of the order, from selling, leasing, donating, transferring, disposing of, tampering with, or otherwise dealing with the assets in a manner that could diminish their value.
The preserved assets consist of three properties – two located in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and one in Ruimsig, Gauteng – and five vehicles: a Ford Ranger Double Cab 2.2L 2WD HR, an Isuzu KB 200L, a Bell 315SL Backhoe Loader LTB 4X4, a Land Rover Evoque, and a Peugeot 305.
The preservation order follows an SIU investigation that uncovered procurement and contractual irregularities, including prohibited and undisclosed subcontracting, significant deviations from the approved specifications and Bill of Quantities (BOQ), and financial irregularities.

This followed KZNDSAC's entry into a service level agreement (SLA) with Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise on 28 February 2020, valued at R3,422,700.38, for the construction of the Ntunjambili Library. The contractor was appointed despite not achieving the highest evaluation score or submitting the most cost-effective bid.

The project was part of the department’s infrastructure programme to expand access to public library facilities in underserved communities. The SLA required the contractor to construct and supply the library in accordance with the approved proposal, meet agreed timeframes, exercise due care and skill, and submit certified invoices with supporting documentation.

Construction halted after the national COVID-19 lockdown was announced, leaving the library unfinished. The provincial department subsequently approved an additional R641,541.14, which was paid on 22 July 2020, for an extension period and COVID-19-related expenditure. However, the SIU found that parts of the additional funding, which brought the total contract value to R4,064,151.52, were claimed through allegedly fraudulent invoices for goods and services that were not provided.

Evidence from a company that provided quotations and inspected work on the project further supported SIU’s findings. The company confirmed that it carried out site preparation but did not perform fencing or tarring. Its quotations, based on the department’s drawings and its standard technical specifications, were R1,708,385.95 for the modular library structure and R44,729.96 for a guard hut.

An independent technical forensic report also identified material non-compliance with the approved specifications, including reduced wall thickness, under-execution of fencing, non-compliant civil works and unjustified contingency claims. These findings resulted in quantifiable over-claiming.

The evidence obtained by the SIU indicates that the payments made by the KZNDSAC to Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise resulted in the contractor’s enrichment at the expense of the KZNDSAC and, ultimately, the public fiscus.

Liyabongeka Trading Enterprise and Xaba must, on 7 October 2026, convince the Special Tribunal why the preservation order must not be made permanent. The matter could not be heard on 4 September because the Sheriff could not locate some respondents.

06/10/2026

| SIU SAVES GOVERNMENT R28.5 BILLION IN RECOVERIES, PREVENTED LOSSES AND SET-ASIDE CONTRACTS

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) recovered cash and assets, prevented potential financial losses and secured the setting aside of contracts amounting to R28.536 billion during the 2025/26 financial year, protecting public funds and enabling resources to be returned to the State for service delivery and developmental programmes.

The amount includes R1.9 billion in potential losses prevented and R936 million in cash and/or assets recovered. It also includes contracts valued at more than R25.7 billion that were set aside through legal proceedings before the Special Tribunal and the High Court of South Africa.

These legal actions help protect public funds from unlawful spending and, where possible, recover and redirect them toward their intended public purposes. The achievement underscores the SIU’s ongoing commitment to combating corruption, maladministration and malpractice, while safeguarding State assets.

The SIU also maintained an unqualified audit outcome, demonstrating its commitment to sound governance, accountability and prudent financial management.

Progress in Investigations and Legal Action

Investigations remain at the heart of the SIU’s work. During the 2025/26 financial year, the SIU closed 5,917 investigations conducted under published proclamations and submitted 48 reports to the Presidency outlining the outcomes of investigations. Some of the reports cover investigations involving the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Ithala Development Finance Corporation, the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works, Makana Local Municipality, Tembisa Hospital in the Gauteng Department of Health, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Services, and the Department of Home Affairs.

The SIU referred matters involving evidence of civil wrongdoing valued at R10.7 billion for civil proceedings. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) investigation was the largest contributor to the overall amount, with the SIU instituting and conducting civil proceedings valued at R6,909,991,311.91.

Expanding Capacity Through Lifestyle Audits

To strengthen accountability and prevent corruption, the SIU expanded its capacity through secondment agreements to conduct lifestyle audits at eight government departments and State-owned entities.

During the year, lifestyle audits were conducted at the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS), Housing Development Agency (HDA), Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Northern Cape Office of the Premier, PRASA, Gauteng Office of the Premier, Limpopo Department of Public Works, and Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Collaborating with Law Enforcement and Government Institutions

The SIU recognises that collaboration is critical to combating corruption and ensuring accountability. In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU made 761 criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) relating to matters involving officials, private entities and individuals suspected of criminal wrongdoing.

The SIU also referred 460 officials to their respective State institutions for disciplinary action, ensuring that matters involving alleged wrongdoing are addressed through the appropriate processes.

The Head of the SIU, Mr Leonard Lekgetho, said the progress reflected in the 2025/26 financial year demonstrates the importance of sustained investigations, legal action and collaboration between institutions in protecting public resources and strengthening accountability.

“Fighting corruption and demanding good governance is not one person’s job. It requires a whole-of-society approach involving government, law-enforcement agencies, investigative and oversight institutions, whistleblowers, civil society, the media, businesses and every citizen.

“If we’re serious about ending the scourge of corruption, we need to ensure that the opportunity to commit corruption is reduced; the ability to conceal corruption is weakened; and that those responsible face appropriate consequences,” Mr Lekgetho added.

The SIU will continue to safeguard the public purse, protect State resources and support efforts to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purposes and for the benefit of all South Africans.