Minnie Dlamini Firmly Rejects “Theft” Allegations, Details 2016 Booking in Wake of SIU Probe into NLC Funds.
In a forceful and detailed public statement, media personality and businesswoman Minnie Dlamini has responded to reports linking her name to the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) high-profile probe into the misuse of National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds. The controversy centres on a R50,000 payment from 2016, which the SIU stated she had agreed to repay.
Dlamini, taking to her official Instagram platform, expressed profound disappointment with the SIU’s approach, framing their public communication as a direct and unjust assault on her hard-earned reputation. “I am deeply disappointed by the Special Investigating Unit’s decision to issue a public statement that has sought to intentionally and unfairly damage my reputation in relation to a matter I was never involved in, nor had any knowledge of,” she wrote.
The 2016 Booking: A Standard Commercial Transaction
At the heart of the matter is a professional engagement booked in 2016. Dlamini clarified that she was contracted and paid a R50,000 appearance fee for an event that was subsequently cancelled by the organisers. She emphasised the normality of this transaction within the entertainment industry.
“This was a standard commercial booking, no different to the many bookings I have undertaken throughout my career,” her statement read. She highlighted that non-refundable fees are a common and accepted industry practice when an event is cancelled by the client, protecting performers from last-minute financial loss.
“I Did Not Steal Any Money”: A Clear Rebuttal
A core pillar of Dlamini’s defence is the complete separation between her role as a service provider and the source of the client’s funds. She asserted she had no visibility or reasonable means to investigate the organisers’ financing.
“At no point was I made aware, nor could I reasonably have known, the source of the funds used by the organisers to book me. I do not involve myself in unlawful activities, and I categorically reject any narrative that suggests otherwise,” she stated. She directly addressed the implied accusation, stating unequivocally: “It is critical to be clear. I did not steal any money. I was a service provider booked for a job.”
The Decision to Repay: A Pragmatic Choice, Not an Admission
Addressing why she agreed to repay the fee nearly eight years later, Dlamini described a pragmatic decision made amidst practical hurdles. She explained that retrieving specific documentation from 2016 proved difficult due to the passage of time.
Faced with the prospect of a prolonged public battle, she chose to refund the amount. “Given the minimal amount involved, and in order to avoid prolonged association with a matter that I was never involved in, I made the pragmatic decision to repay the amount, not because I did anything wrong, but because R50,000 is not worth the reputational harm to my name, my brand, or my business,” she elaborated.
Industry Backlash and Celebrity Support: Calls of Unfair Targeting
Dlamini’s statement ignited significant support from peers within the South African entertainment industry, who questioned the focus on her compared to larger sums under investigation.
Media personality Somizi Mhlongo suggested she was being used as a distraction. “Babe u were the sacrificial lamb… They had to use yo name to distract us from the actual thieves. I mean make it make sense. How cud they publicly go crazy about R50k over R29m. Who stole the balance of R28,950,000.00?” he commented.
Actress Amanda du-Pont defended the standard operating procedures for artists, noting the impracticality of deep financial background checks for every booking. “As if we earn enough to do background checks for each booking 🙄 please man! Half the time we have no in-depth understanding of who the client is besides a general google search,” she wrote. She described the surrounding media coverage as “sensationalist junk and diversions to real truths.”
Upholding a Brand Built on “Hard Work and Integrity”
In closing, Dlamini reaffirmed the value of her personal and professional reputation. “My reputation is my livelihood. I have built my brand over many years through hard work, integrity, and professionalism,” she stated, adding that she reserves all her legal rights regarding the matter.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the due diligence required of public figures, the practices of the entertainment industry, and the methods used by public bodies in recovering funds, highlighting the complex intersection of celebrity, business, and public accountability.