‘Close Friend Stabbed me in the Back’
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Durban – National Empowerment Fund chief executive, Philisiwe Mthethwa, has accused one of her best friends of backstabbing and trying to sabotage her marriage to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, because “she had her eyes on him”.
The fur is reportedly flying in a cat fight of acrimonious words, slurs and counter-accusations that have rivetted all those who know the women involved.
Mthethwa, who was cleared of any wrongdoing by a Deloitte forensic investigation this week, spoke for the first time about the allegations against her to the Sunday Tribune, and about how her name was dragged through the mud.
The claims levelled at her by the unnamed woman, who Mthethwa says is an executive at the NEF, included breaches of corporate governance, conflict of interest, fraud, nepotism, tribalism and abuse of power, which implicated several ministers in a probe that cost taxpayers R3.5 million.
Mthethwa and two other employees, divisional executive Hlengiwe Makhathini and fund manager Nhlanhla Nyembe, were found not guilty this week.
The Department of Trade and Industry has refused to make a copy of the judgment available to the Sunday Tribune.
Mthethwa, 49, who married the police minister at a lavish wedding in February, said she was relieved that the investigation was over. She did not mince her words when it came to the woman she accuses of trying to blacken her name in order to snare her husband’s affections.
“It is a huge relief for me and the two senior executives who were implicated in this smear campaign. I am glad it’s over. It is also a huge relief for the thousands of South Africans that the NEF supports because the organisation was paralysed for six months.
“(The woman) acted with malicious intent. This lady – who I considered a close friend – went behind my back, speaking nonsense about me to the media,” said Mthethwa.
She said the whistleblower’s identity was apparent to her because she knew intimate details of Mthethwa’s life.
The level of venom that the woman harbours for her is terrifying, said Mthethwa.
“I was accused of funding and employing Zulus. I was asked why I did not do a lifestyle audit into an executive who owned a Rolex watch. I was accused of receiving 10 percent kickbacks from Zulus who were funded by the NEF and (of funding) Khanyi (Dhlomo) because she is my friend,” said Mthethwa.
Dhlomo was in the media recently after she received a R34.1m loan from the NEF for her luxury boutique Luminance in Gauteng.
Mthethwa allegedly bought a very costly wedding gown through Dhlomo.
“It was pure jealousy and it really caught me by surprise. I don’t know why people would question if I could afford the dress. Go to the NEF website and see how much I earn.”
Mthethwa was referring to allegations that she dipped her fingers into NEF funds to purchase her Carolina Herrera designer wedding gown.
“My salary is R4.5m from the NEF and I get R1m from Group Five. How would it be difficult for me to afford a Carolina Herrera dress?” asked Mthethwa.
Mthethwa said not only was the woman after her husband, she also had her eyes on her position at the NEF.
“She wasn’t even qualified for the job. I don’t know how she thought the president was going to pick her for the position. She was out to get me, but my husband didn’t pay any attention to her. I heard that she has done this with other men,” said Mthethwa.
”She’s still employed by the NEF,” added Mthethwa, “and although no one has come forward and admitted to doing this, everyone knows who she is.”
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