Minnie Dlamini rejects claims that she stole NLC funds

Media personality, Minenhle ‘Minnie’ Dlamini, has denied allegations that she stole money from the National Lottery Commission (NLC) in 2016, accusing the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of unfairly damaging her reputation.

Dlamini is reportedly among several beneficiaries who received funding through the Mshandukani Foundation, a non-profit organisation implicated in the SIU’s investigation into the misuse of NLC funds.

She says she was booked at the time for a professional engagement and was paid R50,000 for services that ultimately did not take place. Dlamini maintains she was unaware that the funds were irregular and insists the SIU has intentionally and unjustly tarnished her name.

View this post on Instagram

Despite denying wrongdoing, Dlamini has reached a settlement agreement with the SIU and has agreed to repay the full R50,000 she allegedly received from the Mshandukani Foundation as part of the ongoing investigation.

The funds were intended to support the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Roadshow but were reportedly not used for that purpose.

SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago said the Mshandukani Foundation received approximately R24.8 million from the National Lotteries Commission.

He added that Dlamini had fully cooperated with the investigation and acknowledged that the funds were not lawfully due to her.

#SIUWorkingForYou| The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has successfully concluded a settlement agreement with Ms. Minenhle Dlamini, one of the beneficiaries of funds irregularly received from the Mshandukani Foundation NPO as part of the ongoing investigation into the… pic.twitter.com/d6Xef1FozZ

— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) December 22, 2025

SIU freezes property linked to late actor Presley Chweneyagae

The unit has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze a residential property in Hesteapark, Pretoria, linked to Chweneyagae, his spouse, and several other respondents in an NLC corruption case.

The property is alleged to have been purchased with approximately R889,000 diverted from a R15 million NLC grant intended for youth arts programmes.

Investigations revealed that the grant was approved for the Southern African Youth Movement NPO and was later channelled through Domestic Baboon (Pty) Ltd — a company solely owned by Chweneyagae — to acquire the private residence.

The preservation order prohibits the sale, transfer, lease, or disposal of the property pending the finalisation of civil proceedings, which the SIU is expected to institute within 60 court days.

#SIUWorkingForYou| SIU FREEZES PROPERTY LINKED TO LATE ACTOR PRESLEY CHWENEYAGAE, SPOUSE AND CO-RESPONDENTS IN NLC CORRUPTION CASE

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze a residential property in Hesteapark,… pic.twitter.com/mmfACPuDFd

— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) December 23, 2025

Written by: Odirile Rabalao