KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi has hit back at corruption allegations levelled against her, hiring a private public relations firm to help repair her public image and defend her reputation amid claims of nepotism, abuse of power and improper financial dealings.
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi has turned to a private public relations company, PR Worx, to manage her response and counter what she calls a deliberate smear campaign. She insists that she is paying for these services out of her own pocket, as the issues involve her personal life and family, not her official duties in the health department. This decision came after questions arose about why she did not use the department’s large communications team. Simelane-Mngadi explained that the matters being discussed in public are unrelated to her role as the political head of the department, and she wants to keep government resources out of it.
Background to the Allegations Against Simelane-Mngadi
The controversy erupted in recent weeks, sparked by claims from various quarters, including social media influencers and opposition parties. At the heart of the storm are allegations that Simelane-Mngadi abused her position to secure financial benefits for her family business, Kwazi-Gugu Investments CC. This company, founded by her parents, is said to have received a loan from Ithala Bank in 2008 to buy a farm in Dannhauser, in the north-west of the province. Critics claim this happened under suspicious circumstances, especially given Ithala Bank’s history of mismanagement and corruption scandals, where billions were allegedly looted in the past.
Further fuelling the fire are accusations of duplicated payments totalling R1.42 million from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development between 2014 and 2016. Opponents argue that during this period, Simelane-Mngadi served as chairperson of the legislature’s agriculture portfolio committee, which oversees the very department that dished out the funds. They suggest this created a conflict of interest, allowing her to influence decisions that benefited her family while public clinics struggled with medicine shortages and hospitals deteriorated.
However, Simelane-Mngadi has strongly refuted these claims, providing a clear timeline to set the record straight. She resigned from the family business in 2004, four years before the Ithala Bank loan was approved in 2008. At that time, she was a junior official in a completely different department, with no say in the bank’s loan processes. Her appointment as chairperson of the agriculture portfolio committee only happened in June 2016, after the funding period in question had ended. She stresses that members of the provincial legislature, including committee chairs, have no role in the day-to-day supply chain management or operational decisions of departments, due to the separation of powers in government.
To add transparency, Simelane-Mngadi has submitted a full and detailed report on these matters to KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli. She has also called on opposition members, particularly from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), to formally request investigations from the premier, the Auditor-General of South Africa, and the provincial treasury. “These facts are easily verifiable, and their deliberate distortion shows that this is not an attempt to inform the public but rather a well-calculated political smear campaign,” she said.
Family Employment and Nepotism Claims
Another layer to the allegations involves the employment of Simelane-Mngadi’s relatives in government positions, which critics label as nepotism. Her sister was appointed as assistant director of human resources in the Department of Health. Simelane-Mngadi maintains that this followed a transparent, competitive recruitment process. Her sister was already employed in the department, possessed the necessary qualifications and experience, and was interviewed by an independent panel. The MEC had no involvement in the selection.
Similarly, her brother, a qualified finance professional with 15 years of corporate experience and verifiable academic credentials, works as director in the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Simelane-Mngadi describes accusations of fraudulent CVs or preferential treatment as unsubstantiated and offensive, especially to black professionals who have earned their roles through merit and hard work. She argues that these claims undermine the achievements of many in public service and distract from real issues.
Media Interference and the Vuma FM Saga
Simelane-Mngadi has also faced accusations of interfering in media affairs, specifically the non-renewal of radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma’s contract at Vuma FM. Sources suggest the MEC pressured the station by threatening to withdraw government advertising, which Vuma FM relies on heavily due to its financial challenges. This allegedly stemmed from Ngobese-Zuma’s role in the March in March movement, which campaigns against illegal immigration. The group organised protests, including one at Durban’s Addington Hospital, questioning why undocumented foreigners access public healthcare.
Simelane-Mngadi categorically denies any involvement, stating that the station’s management made the decision internally as part of its HR processes, with no external pressure. Vuma FM has publicly confirmed this in a statement, putting the matter to rest. The MEC condemned the protests that disrupt hospitals or block roads, saying they endanger lives, but she respects lawful demonstrations. On healthcare for undocumented immigrants, she reaffirmed that South Africa’s Constitution guarantees emergency medical care to all, regardless of nationality. Denying treatment would be unlawful and inhumane, though she acknowledges the strain on resources. National discussions are underway to involve immigrants’ home countries in funding their care, and she cited examples like turning away a TB patient, who could then infect others in taxis and communities.
“I agree that illegal immigration is a serious problem in our country, but we cannot turn away human beings in need of medical treatment. Denying emergency medical care based on nationality would not only be inhumane but also unlawful,” Simelane-Mngadi explained.
Political Pressure and Calls for Resignation
The allegations have drawn sharp responses from opposition parties. The MK Party has demanded that Simelane-Mngadi and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka resign by 26 July, or face formal removal requests. They accuse both of corruption, abuse of power, and patronage in tenders, calling for probes by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Public Protector. ActionSA has written to Premier Ntuli urging investigations, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) supports due process over trial by media, demanding credible evidence before action. The DA’s health spokesperson emphasised that KwaZulu-Natal deserves a health department led by someone untainted by corruption, but they will act only on verifiable facts.
In the provincial legislature’s budget debate on 30 July 2025, MKP MPL Judith Gasa launched scathing attacks, mentioning unverified claims of Simelane-Mngadi being seen at an airport with a bag full of money – which she later withdrew as fake news. Gasa raised concerns over public-private partnerships (PPPs), labelling them “politically protected plundering,” and called for a forensic audit of health tenders, questioning if family members benefited. Simelane-Mngadi hit back, noting that MKP members also benefit from the National School Nutrition Programme, and urged scrutiny for all.
The African National Congress (ANC) has urged whistleblowers to use proper channels rather than public smears, claiming the party is being unfairly targeted. Premier Ntuli has requested detailed reports from both MECs and says he will analyse them with his team before announcing any action. Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has offered to investigate school nutrition programme claims if evidence is provided.
Simelane-Mngadi’s Track Record and Focus on Service Delivery
A qualified lawyer with a BA in law and an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, plus a certificate in governance from Wits University, Simelane-Mngadi has built a 21-year career in public service. She has held roles like senior manager in the KZN Office of the Premier and is known as a women’s rights activist and political campaigner. Despite the distractions, she remains focused on healthcare improvements.
In her recent budget speech, she outlined plans for clinic upgrades, better emergency medical services, and digitising health systems to boost efficiency. The department faces budget cuts but is committed to a five-year strategic plan for better access and infrastructure. Earlier this year, she denied widespread medicine shortages, explaining a stock visibility system where facilities can borrow from each other or the provincial depot. If needed, they coordinate with other provinces. She admitted some patients were turned away in isolated cases but assured alternatives are always provided.
ActionSA criticised her over this, calling for resignation for misleading the public, but Simelane-Mngadi stands firm, saying the department has no overall shortage and is investigating lapses.
Hiring PR Worx and Legal Action
Shannon Henning, managing director at PR Worx, confirmed Simelane-Mngadi is a personal client handling a reputational issue outside departmental matters. The firm issued a media statement on 30 July 2025, where the MEC denounced the “coordinated campaign of online misinformation and character attacks.” She delayed responding publicly to focus on tabling the health budget but now addresses the “falsified content, manipulated timelines, or entirely unfounded rumours.”
Simelane-Mngadi is pursuing legal action against those spreading false claims, rooted in her constitutional right to defend herself. “I have been in public service since 2004, and my 21-year track record speaks for itself. I have the same right as any citizen to defend my name, to stop the spread of lies, to protect my reputation, and to safeguard the integrity of my office and the important work it represents for the people of KwaZulu-Natal, which is exactly what I’m doing.”
She added: “Leadership should never be determined by threats or intimidation, but by truth, service, and due process. Sadly, bullying and online trolling have become far too common in our society by those seeking to harass and undermine others. I will not bow to those tactics, and I will not allow them to compromise the progress we are making within the province.”
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