The corruption in South Africa will shock you and we are still in awe following the Special Investigating Unit’s update on Valentine’s Day.
South Africans are in disbelief after local designer Thula Sindi popped up on the SIU page.
The SIU is busy with the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) investigations and Sindi is implicated.
The SIU said after completing 90% of the second phase investigations, they found that the renowned fashion designer received R140 000 from the NLC.
Although it is not clear what the money was for, Sindi received funds from actress Terry Pheto, who allegedly benefited from the R5 million from NLC in 2018.
The NLC approved grant funding of R5 million to Zibisibix Non-Profit Company for a chicken farm in December 2018. After receiving the R5 million, money moved from the account and the following payments were made: pic.twitter.com/ECpl7VEAZl
— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) February 14, 2024
Most South Africans were disappointed with Sindi because he has always been vocal about anti-corruption, so being caught up in a scandal like that was a shocker.
They even dug up his old posts where he was speaking against corruption.
“If u (you) want silence from those in any proximity to any form of corruption, then you are simply reinforcing what is the usual.
“Next you’ll be calling them complicit for their silence. Ppl (people) are realising that personal benefit doesn’t matter when there is structural damage being done,” Sindi wrote.
As he has always been vocal about anti-corruption, people called him out for being a beneficiary of the corruption he spoke against.
@16_Baby10 wrote: “Bandla, Thula Sindi was writing long tweets here calling people out for corruption, kanti (yet) he ate????”
Another X user, @MadiBoity, said: “Thula Sindi blocked me before Covid-19 when I spoke about that two-month-old NGO that received R500K from the National Lottery despite the requirements being that an NGO must have financial statements for 12 months.
“NGO was owned by his musician friend. It was a big storm that day here on the TL when I flagged it. I didn’t understand why he was upset, but today I do.”
Others argue that perhaps he is entangled in this controversy because he made dresses for Pheto, so the R140 000 flagged by SIU was for that.
Below are more reactions from South Africans who are shocked by the scandal.
People steal millions, buy houses, farms, cars so you join in but God decides to use you as an example after just R140K 😭 https://t.co/yDn459xLkE
Thula Sindi being here is so shocking because haibo isn’t he anti corruption 🌝 https://t.co/vCpjI4PWTR pic.twitter.com/4tOGo4w8bB
— Beyoncé is coming 🤠🐝 (@NosiphoL__) February 14, 2024
Terry Pheto is never beating the Tsotsi allegations https://t.co/syvpkeo93L
— Luna M 🇵🇸 (@MphoMoalamedi) February 14, 2024
∎ Independent Media Lifestyle reached out to Sindi for a right of reply but he did not respond by the time of publishing. This is a developing story.