The Special Investigating Unit has obtained a Special Tribunal order freezing a 3.5431-hectare farm linked to more than R13 million in alleged fraudulent Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme payments.
The interim preservation order covers Ambleton Farm and prohibits Nhlanipho Mngomezulu, entities linked to him, and anyone with knowledge of the order from selling, leasing, transferring or otherwise dealing with the property. The order takes immediate effect and remains in force pending further civil proceedings.
SIU investigators identified Mngomezulu as a central figure in a syndicate that allegedly defrauded the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Department of Employment and Labour of more than R148 million through ghost-employee TERS claims during the COVID-19 period.
Flatmont Enterprise (Pty) Ltd, linked to Mngomezulu, allegedly submitted claims for 659 purported employees while having only 45 legitimate employees. Another company, Ubuhle be Africa, is accused of claiming for 85 employees while employing only 12.
Bank records show that after Flatmont received TERS payments in January 2022, R800 000 was transferred to conveyancing attorneys handling the purchase of Ambleton Farm by SA Scrum Assembly (owned by Mngomezulu) for R1.4 million. Lubelo Hlomuka Holdings, trading as SA Scrum Assembly, is alleged to have received approximately R15.9 million through the scheme.
The latest order follows earlier freezes of other properties, vehicles and accounts linked to the same investigation. Three co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in September 2026 on charges including fraud, theft and money laundering. They were released on R10 000 bail each and are due back on 3 December 2026.
The SIU is acting under Proclamation R8 of 2021.
