'I did not steal', Minnie Dlamini slams SIU for singling her out
TV personality Minenhle “Minnie” Dlamini has hit back at the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU)
Image: Instagram/minniedlamini
TV personality Minenhle “Minnie” Dlamini has hit back at the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) recent statements linking her to irregular National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds.
IOL previously reported the SIU concluded a settlement agreement with Dlamini. She is one of the beneficiaries who is said to have irregularly received funds from the Mshandukani Foundation NPO as part of an ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of National Lotteries Commission grant funding.
In terms of the settlement agreement, Dlamini agreed to repay the full amount of R50,000 she received in 2016 from the Mshandukani Foundation NPO, which was funded through an NLC grant intended for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Roadshow.
According to the SIU the funds were not used for their intended purpose.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dlamini hit back at the SIU, denying any wrongdoing. She said the R50,000 she repaid was for a professional engagement that was ultimately cancelled, and that she had no knowledge of the source of the funds.
"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," Dlamini said.
Dlamini also criticised the SIU for publicly singling her out, calling their statements misleading and harmful to her reputation.
"Nearly a decade later, I was asked to produce supporting documentation from 2016. Despite best efforts, I was unable to locate certain records due to the passage of time".
"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. It is critical to be clear . I did not steal any money".
She also said her rights remain fully reserved and slammed the SIU for publicly associating her with wrongdoing.
"The narrative being created around my name is false, misleading, and unjust, and I strongly object to my name being used for attention or publicity. As a respected institution, the SIU should exercise greater care in what it disseminates and how such information may be perceived by the public".
"Instead, its actions have made me the face of an investigation in which I am not a principal party, which is distasteful and extremely reckless".
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