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On Monday, 20 March, media personality Ayanda Thabethe attempted to speak out against former transport minister Fikile Mbalula’s mocking of the National Shutdown, but her attempt was quickly derailed when Twitter users began dragging her into her partner Peter Matsimbe’s alleged fraud court battle.
The Celebrity Game Night captain is said to be expecting her second child with the businessman, whom she claims is not married.
Mbalula labeled the shutdown a “big flop” in a tweet on Monday, 20 March, as the opposition party EFF and other South Africans protested against the country’s ongoing energy crisis, calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.
Defending the shutdown, Ayanda Thabethe called the ruling party African National Congress (ANC) the biggest flop.
“[The] biggest flop is a party having to feel like they have to resort to this in order to get basic service delivery for the people – biggest flop is having enough resources to fight a shutdown but not enough resources to do the same to make this country safe,” Ayanda Thabethe lashed out in response to the ANC secretary general’s comment.
https://twitter.com/AyandaThabethe_/status/1637725953924186112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1637725953924186112%7Ctwgr%5Ed1f8ede495ac42a92a4908373b8b42cd0f49fc0c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesouthafrican.com%2Flifestyle%2Fceleb-news%2Fbreaking-corruption-shutdown-ayanda-thabethe-fikile-mbalula-fraud-peter-matsimbe-20-march-2023%2F
However, Ayanda Thabethe’s comment did not receive the applause she had hoped for as tweeps attacked her for dating an allegedly corrupt man.
@willardthegoat said: “wena indoda yakho icorrupt thula [your man is corrupt, shut up]”
“Your boyfriend whom you love so much is implicated in multiple corruption scandals… You’re part of the problem,” @Sithalekgaogelo replied.
While @VusiMzobe wrote: “Your man is allegedly filthy rich off state funds you’re breaking your neck showing logos of the cars which are were bought off takes [sic] payers money. You are a big part of the problem. You must shut up”
https://twitter.com/willardthegoat/status/1637727998660038657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1637727998660038657%7Ctwgr%5Ed1f8ede495ac42a92a4908373b8b42cd0f49fc0c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesouthafrican.com%2Flifestyle%2Fceleb-news%2Fbreaking-corruption-shutdown-ayanda-thabethe-fikile-mbalula-fraud-peter-matsimbe-20-march-2023%2F
Your boyfriend whom you love so much is implicated in multiple corruption scandals.. You’re part of the problem. https://t.co/BoyzrJtxrT
— SITHALE✍🏿 (@SithaleKgaogelo) March 20, 2023
Your man is allegedly filthy rich off state funds you’re breaking your neck showing logos of the cars which are were bought off takes payers money. You are a big part of the problem. You must shut up https://t.co/CZtI1bwtaj
— Vusi.Mz🦉 (@YouDunnoVusi) March 20, 2023
On Sunday, 19 March, City Press reported Ayanda Thabethe’s partner is facing fraud allegations dating back to 2019. At the centre of the fraud allegations are 10 luxury cars that went missing while in his possession.
The publication reports that court papers filed in August 2019 reveal Matsimbe used fake documents to receive funding from the bank to purchase luxury vehicles from various dealerships. He reportedly did this through his company called Matsimbe and Co.
Some of the cars purchased include a Toyota Hilux, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus SUV, Lexus LX, Mclaren MP4 coupé, BMW X5 SUV, Can-Am Maverick, Audi Q3, a Nissan Navara and a Volvo mechanical horse.
In 2019, Standard Bank was allegedly granted a court judgement to get the cars back from Matsimbe which he reportedly ignored. This resulted in the bank obtaining a warrant of committal for contempt of court against Matsimbe.
According to City Press, the warrant ordered Matsimbe to be arrested for 30 days. However, only two cars were recovered; the Mclaren and the Volvo.
Matsimbe’s brother Richard was reportedly embroiled in a similar scandal in which he obtained a loan of R22 million from businessperson Jacobus Jansen for two luxury cars.