Somizi Mhlongo’s company nowhere to be found as sheriff attempts to execute court order.
SHERIFF ON THE HUNT FOR SOMIZI’S COMPANY, sheriff are pursuing media personality Somizi Mhlongo and his company, Search Light (Pty) Ltd, after it failed to pay employees their salaries as ordered.
According to Hotellica union rep Thabiso Putswe, the sheriff visited Search Light’s former Sandton offices THREE times but found the premises empty. “We later received information that they now work from home,” said Putswe.
The union is now exploring other avenues to seize assets. “We know they may still have an office at the Carlton Centre. And we believe there could be attachable assets there.”
A return from the Randburg Magistrate’s Court confirms the enforcement order could not be executed. The reason? “The respondent has no movable goods at the given address.”
The sheriff visited on: • Sep 22: Staff confirmed they were working remotely. • Sep 23: Office doors were locked. • Sep 29: A sign indicated the office had been VACATED.
This stems from the unfair dismissal of several employees in April. As reported by Sunday World in July, workers claimed they were dismissed without any warning or hearing.
The CCMA ruled in the workers’ favour for April, May, and June salaries. Despite this, the company failed to pay, forcing workers to obtain an enforcement order.
The enforcement order authorises the sheriff to attach & sell the company’s movable assets at public auction to recover R165,402.62, plus interest.
A document lists Somizi and Lindo Maleho as directors of Search Light, a cleaning services company. In July, Somizi responded on Instagram: “I just found out I own a company I never had. Mzansi for sho.”
Efforts to reach somizi on his phone proved futile.
