Minister Ntshavheni faces corruption storm: Hawks probe R80m scandal, DA demands resignation

Key topics:Hawks complete probe into R80m in irregular spendingDA demands Ntshavheni’s resignation over corruption caseANC resists calls for executive accountability committee.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..By Kerry Lanaghan.Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, South Africa's Minister in the Presidency, is at the centre of a growing political storm following revelations that she is under criminal investigation for corruption linked to her past tenure as Municipal Manager at Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality.The Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) have completed a probe into R2.5 million in irregular tender dealings and a broader R80 million in unauthorised expenditure. The case docket has now been handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), moving the matter into the prosecutorial phase.Despite the seriousness of the allegations, neither Ntshavheni nor President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly addressed the issue recently. Ntshavheni's last known statement regarding the matter dates back to 2020, following Judge Gerrit Muller of the Polokwane High Court's scathing commentary on the case. At the time, the judge described the tender saga as “repugnant and devastating,” recommending immediate investigation by the Hawks.Now, opposition parties, particularly the Democratic Alliance (DA), demand immediate action. In a statement, the DA called on Ntshavheni to resign or be removed, arguing that no Cabinet member should continue to serve while under criminal investigation for corruption.“This is yet another example of an ANC Minister whom President Cyril Ramaphosa needs to remove for allegations of corruption,” the DA stated. “Either he was unaware - which would be an indictment - or he was aware, which raises damning questions.”The controversy has also reignited debate around accountability in the Presidency. The DA highlighted its long-standing call for a dedicated parliamentary oversight committee, a recommendation echoed in the Zondo Commission Report. While the proposal has gained some multi-party support, the ANC and IFP have opposed it, further deepening perceptions of resistance to transparency within the executive.Ntshavheni’s case comes amid several unresolved corruption scandals within Ramaphosa’s Cabinet. In 2024, former Justice Minister Thembi Simelane was implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal and was quietly shifted to oversee the R33-billion Human Settlements portfolio - without facing legal or political consequences.The latest controversy has taken on additional symbolic weight after social media criticism from @pookiespolls on X of Ntshavheni’s visible role during the ANC’s recent meeting with former US President Donald Trump, where the song "Kill the Boer" was controversially played. Critics argue that the moment displayed the same impunity as in the corruption probe.With the ball now in the NPA’s court, the public awaits potential prosecution and whether Ramaphosa will act pre-emptively or wait for formal charges. For now, Ntshavheni remains in office, shielded by silence from both the Presidency and the ruling ANC.

Minister Ntshavheni faces corruption storm: Hawks probe R80m scandal, DA demands resignation

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