Sheriff chases Somizi’s company after failing to pay workers

Somizi’s company pursued by sheriff over unpaid worker salaries

Media personality Somizi Mhlongo is under fire as the sheriff goes after his company, Search Light (Pty) Ltd, for allegedly failing to pay employees their salaries.

According to Hotellica union representative Thabiso Putswe, the sheriff made three visits to the company’s former Sandton offices, only to discover that the premises had been vacated.

“They used to operate from Sandton, but it looks like they’ve moved out. The sheriff went there three times and found no one. We later received information that they now work from home,” Putswe told reporters.

Documents from the Randburg Magistrate’s Court confirm that the enforcement order could not be carried out because “the respondent has no movable goods at the given address,” as reported by a receptionist at the building.

The sheriff’s visits took place on September 22, 23, and 29, and by the third attempt, a sign indicated the office was empty.

Putswe added that they are now exploring other means to seize assets belonging to Search Light.

“We are now exploring other avenues to seize their assets as per the enforcement order. And we know they may still have an office at the Carlton Centre,” he said.

The dispute stems from April 2025, when several employees accused Somizi and his business partners of unfair dismissal.

The workers claimed they were let go without proper notice or a disciplinary hearing.

“We were unfairly dismissed in April this year without any warning or hearing. We took the matter to the CCMA, which ruled in our favour for April, May, and June salaries,” one of the affected employees said.

Despite the CCMA ruling, Search Light allegedly failed to pay the outstanding wages, prompting the workers to seek an enforcement order.

The order authorized the sheriff to attach and auction the company’s movable assets to recover R165,402.62, plus interest.

Somizi and Lindo Maleho are listed as directors of Search Light (Pty) Ltd, a cleaning services company that reportedly provided staff to Transnet at the Carlton Centre.

When the matter first surfaced in July, Somizi declined to comment but took to Instagram to seemingly deny any connection to the company.

“I just found out I own a company I never had. Mzansi for sho,” he wrote.