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KZN Premier Asks for More Time on Explosive MEC Corruption Claims
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has appealed for patience as corruption allegations swirl around members of his provincial cabinet. Speaking at a crime imbizo in Umlazi on Tuesday, Ntuli described the claims as “complicated” and insisted he needed more time to deal with the matter properly.
Allegations that shook the province
The controversy stems from accusations that Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka manipulated school feeding scheme tenders to benefit relatives and political allies. Hlomuka has denied the charges.
At the same time, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi has faced questions over whether her family profited from a tender in the Department of Agriculture, where she previously chaired a parliamentary portfolio committee.
When the allegations surfaced three weeks ago, Ntuli promised swift action after reviewing responses from both MECs. He later confirmed that the responses had been received but admitted he needed more time to weigh the facts.
A growing scandal
The opposition Democratic Alliance escalated pressure last week, pointing to new claims that a company allegedly linked to the wife of Deputy Employment and Labour Minister Jomo Sibiya also benefited from a school feeding scheme contract. Sibiya has yet to respond.
The DA’s provincial education spokesperson, Sakhile Mngadi, described the revelations as evidence of “rot” in the National School Nutrition Programme. The party has demanded a full forensic audit of all contracts, with the Bid Adjudication Committee dissolved and investigated for possible collusion.
What the MECs say
Both Hlomuka and Simelane-Mngadi acknowledged in their responses that the companies named were once registered under their names. However, they insisted they had since resigned from them and denied influencing adjudication processes in favour of family businesses.
The bigger picture
Tender scandals are not new in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly within school feeding and healthcare contracts where billions of rands are at stake. What makes this case stand out is the involvement of senior figures and the Premier’s cautious handling of the crisis.
For now, Ntuli has urged the public to allow him time to “follow further up” on the allegations. Critics argue that delay risks eroding public confidence in his leadership and in the integrity of provincial governance.
As calls mount for forensic audits and deeper probes, KZN residents are left waiting to see whether this scandal will be dealt with transparently or quietly pushed aside.
Also read: Angry Parents Demand Action From KZN Education Department Over Westville Senior Primary Issues
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: KwaZulu-Natal Community Safety and Liaison
