South African media star Minenhle “Minnie” Dlamini has spoken out strongly after her name was widely connected to a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into irregular payments linked to the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
In a detailed public statement, Dlamini said she is “deeply disappointed” with how the SIU handled the matter and believes the agency unfairly made her the face of the controversy.
The SIU recently announced that Dlamini had agreed to repay R50,000 she received from a non-profit organisation, the Mshandukani Foundation, which was funded by the NLC for activities tied to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The investigation found that those funds were distributed without proper justification.
Dlamini explained that she was booked for a professional engagement in 2016, for which she was paid R50,000. However, the event never took place and she insisted that she had no knowledge of the source of the money at the time.
In her statement, she said the repayment was a practical choice to avoid ongoing association with the issue — not an admission that she had done anything wrong. “I did not steal any money,” she stressed, adding she was simply a service provider who agreed to a booking.
Dlamini also criticised the SIU for publicly highlighting her involvement and said this has caused unfair damage to her reputation — something she says is vital for her brand and career.
She concluded by saying her rights remain fully reserved and that she objects to her name being used for public attention in this matter.