By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
South Africa — Search Light Pty Ltd, a company co-owned by renowned entertainer Somizi Mhlongo, is reportedly facing legal action after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) ordered the seizure of its assets due to unpaid employee wages.
According to reports from MDN News, the company, which is co-directed by Mhlongo and Lindo Maleho, allegedly failed to settle wages totaling R165,402.62 owed to former employees. The affected workers were employed at Transnet in the Carlton Centre and claim they were dismissed in April 2025 without prior warning or a disciplinary hearing.
The CCMA’s enforcement award, issued on 23 June 2025, authorizes the sheriff to seize and auction Search Light Pty Ltd’s movable assets as a means to recover the outstanding wages along with interest for the months of April, May, and June.
A former employee who spoke to MDN News expressed frustration, saying, “We received no warning or hearing; we were simply let go.”
The ruling has been welcomed by Thabiso Putswe of the Hetelicca Trade Union, who highlighted that a separate unfair dismissal claim against the company is still under review.
This development marks a significant legal challenge for Mhlongo’s business ventures, amid ongoing discussions about workers’ rights and fair labor practices in the industry.