“MINNIE DLAMINI TO REPAY R50K — SIU Cracks Down on Lottery Fund Abuse”

Minenhle ‘Minnie’ Dlamini.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian | Johannesburg | 22 December 2025

Television star and socialite Minenhle ‘Minnie’ Dlamini has been ordered to return R50,000 she received illegally from a National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant, after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) secured a settlement with the 35-year-old actress over misused public funds.

The settlement, announced Monday, follows an SIU investigation that found Dlamini was among several beneficiaries who received money from the Mshandukani Foundation, an NPO that acted as a conduit for a R24.8 million NLC grant meant to fund a 2016 Rio Olympic Games roadshow. The SIU confirmed the funds were never used for their intended purpose — and that Dlamini’s payout was both unlawful and unjustified ¹ ² ³.

“Ms. Dlamini has fully cooperated with the SIU investigation and has acknowledged that the funds were not lawfully due to her,” said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago. “The repayment forms part of the SIU’s broader efforts to recover misappropriated public funds and hold all recipients of irregular payments accountable, regardless of the amount involved.”

Dlamini, known for her roles in “S’Thembiso” and “The Real Housewives of Johannesburg”, has not publicly commented on the settlement. However, sources close to the matter indicate she accepted the terms without contest, signaling a willingness to clear her name after being named in the probe.

The SIU emphasized that recovered funds will be returned to the NLC for redistribution to legitimate beneficiaries — a move aimed at restoring public trust in a system repeatedly rocked by corruption scandals involving lottery grants.

This case is part of a larger crackdown on NLC mismanagement, with the SIU continuing to pursue civil and criminal action against other individuals and entities involved in the broader scheme — including former NLC officials and board members.

While R50,000 may seem modest compared to the millions siphoned off, the settlement sends a clear message: no one — celebrity or politician — is above accountability when it comes to public funds. The SIU’s relentless pursuit of irregular payments underscores its commitment to restoring integrity to South Africa’s grant system.