Search Light reportedly owes staff more than R165 000 in unpaid salaries.
Media personality Somizi Mhlongo has denied reports that he co-owns Search Light (Pty) Ltd, a company reportedly under investigation for failing to pay its employees.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Mhlongo said reports linking him to the company were “false and misleading”.
“It has come to my attention that Sunday World has published an article titled ‘Somizi Mhlongo’s company vanishes as the sheriff comes knocking,’” he wrote.
“I would like to clearly state that the company referred to in the article does not belong to me, has never been registered under my name and I have no association with it whatsoever.
“The claims made are completely false and misleading,” he said.
Mhlongo added that the publication of unverified information could damage reputations and mislead the public.
“It is deeply concerning that such misinformation is published without proper verification. I urge media outlets to uphold the principles of accuracy and accountability when reporting,” he said.
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Alleged unpaid salaries despite CCMA ruling
Last week, Sunday World reported that the sheriff was pursuing Mhlongo and his associates’ company, Search Light (Pty) Ltd, after it allegedly failed to pay staff salaries.
This followed earlier reports in July in which the publication reported that Mhlongo and his partners had dismissed several employees without following due process.
The staff reportedly took the matter to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), which ruled in their favour for unpaid salaries amounting to over R165 000.
“Despite the ruling, they were allegedly still not paid. The workers later obtained an enforcement order to recover the outstanding funds.”
It is reported that the sheriff visited the company’s former offices in Sandton three times in September but found the premises vacant.
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