Gospel singer Kholeka Dubula has denied any wrongdoing after being named in a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report investigating the alleged theft of R24.98 million from the National Lottery Commission (NLC).
The SIU says Dubula received R30,000 from money that was meant to fund the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (Sascoc) Rio 2016 Olympic tour and is seeking to recover the amount.
However, the singer insists she was paid legitimately for performing at an event in Gqeberha and had no knowledge of where the organisers obtained the money.
“Our names are being dragged through the mud,” Dubula said. “I went there, performed, and got paid. Therefore, we should be asking event organisers where they get their funding from.”
According to the SIU, the NLC transferred R24.98 million to Sascoc, which then paid R24.83 million to the Mshandukani Foundation. Investigators allege the money was later distributed to various individuals and companies, including former NLC officials, businesses, media personality Minnie Dlamini, and Dubula.
Dlamini has since repaid the R50,000 she received, saying it was payment for hosting the event. Mbizo Events has also returned its funds, while the SIU is pursuing recovery of the remaining amounts from other beneficiaries.
Dubula maintains she committed no crime and says she is being unfairly linked to the alleged lottery funding scandal simply because she was paid to perform at the event.
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