The timeline is burning, and this time, it’s not because of a glamorous makeup tutorial. Beauty mogul and “Soft Life” ambassador Mihlali Ndamase is closing off 2025 in the middle of a PR nightmare, facing severe backlash over allegations of labor exploitation and unlawful termination.
Just weeks after the high-profile, glitzy launch of her new boutique, Treasury, reports have surfaced suggesting that the business is already crumbling under the weight of poor sales and low foot traffic. But it is the alleged treatment of her staff that has sent shockwaves through social media.
In a move described by critics as “desperate,” Ndamase allegedly abruptly fired the boutique’s only employee. However, the controversy reached a boiling point when the staff member’s alleged salary details were leaked online.
Mihlali Ndamase Unlawfully Fires Her First Employee at Treasury Designs by Mihlali Ndamase.
Mihlali Ndamase recently launched her new store Treasury Designs by Mihlali Ndamase which is actually owned by her mother Pumla Ndamase since she is the original Moghel Slay.
Pumla… pic.twitter.com/8QH8fb0jVO
— Musa Khawula (@Musa_Khawula) December 30, 2025
The numbers have sparked a furious debate about the dark side of influencer culture. Mzansi was quick to point out the jarring contrast between Ndamase’s brand—built on luxury travel, designer bags, and opulence—and the “peanuts” she was reportedly paying the person running her business.
“How can you preach ‘Black Excellence’ and ‘Soft Life’ while paying your staff starvation wages?” one user raged on X (formerly Twitter), a sentiment echoed by thousands.
For many South Africans struggling with unemployment and the rising cost of living, the allegations of exploitation struck a raw nerve. The incident has quickly shifted from a business failure to a moral indictment, with fans demanding accountability.
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As the country prepares for New Year’s celebrations, Ndamase remains silent, but the court of public opinion has already made its ruling: You cannot build an empire on the backs of the underpaid.