Minister’s fiancée denies money claims

R30 million sponsorship allegations ‘a lie that has hurt my organisation’, Mthembu maintains

THE POLICE Minister’s fiancée, Dr Nomcebo Mthembu, has denied allegations that she received more than R30 million from the Department of Police headed by Nathi Nhleko.

Last week City Press reported that Nhleko had authorised a cheque for R30m to sponsor Mthembu’s Indoni Cultural Institute to promote social cohesion in the aftermath of xenophobic attacks.

Responding to allegations yesterday, Mthembu, whose Indoni Cultural Institute is based in Hillcrest, told the Sunday Tribune that she was not deterred by detractors who spread malicious lies about her and the organisation.

She said it had been the former police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, not Nhleko, who authorised the memorandum of understanding with her organisation.

She said she had asked her legal team to institute claims against the newspaper and the journalist.

“It is disappointing to find some black journalists falling into the sexist and racist trap that believes that when a black woman succeeds it is because of sexual favours. I am a medical doctor, a professional who has spent a great deal of time studying and working in the service of others.

“I warned the journalist not to write something she has no proof of, but she insisted. We have taken legal action against her and the paper she represents.

“We want them to rectify their mistake which has tarnished my name and the organisation,” she said.

Mthembu denied receiving R30m and said allegations had been fabricated to destroy her good work of empowering young girls with education.

“The whole thing was created to belittle the good work my organisation does for black young women.

“They want to nullify everything we are about, which is mentoring more than 15 000 girls from impoverished households by giving them hope in life.”

Mthembu said that in the wake of the xenophobic attacks 18 months ago‚ Indoni had been chosen to run the “We are one humanity” campaign.

This was because a memorandum of understanding was already in place with the NGO and the organisation was based in KwaZulu-Natal where the majority of the attacks had taken place.

“This has negatively affected our campaign for sponsorship to carry out our mandate.

“When we send requests for funding, we are asked why because we have millions,” she said furiously.

Mthembu said Nhleko was upset about the reports and had requested that the Public Protector investigate.

On Tuesday, during a media briefing, Nhleko said the R30m allegation was a lie.

He said the Civilian Secretariat for Police‚ whose funds he was alleged to have disbursed‚ did not have that kind of money available at the time.