Johannesburg - Thobile MaKhumalo Mseleku, a Real Housewives of Durban star, has filed criminal charges with the SAPS and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) against former business associates Pierre and Wayne Baronet, father and son.

MaKhumalo, as she is known, claims that they made her out to be the proverbial “darkie for hire” to enable them to persuade the DMRE to grant two of their companies mining permits in KwaZulu-Natal.

The criminal charges have since been allocated for investigation to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation for further action.

In communications seen by Independent Media between Mseleku and the authorities, she describes how the Baronets hired her as the director of community liaison at their Umzumbe Mining Company on July 16, 2019.

Mseleku told the authorities that Umzumbe feared that they would not be reallocated permits when the current ones expired because of environmental concerns the DMRE raised after complaints by the local community, and that the Baronets then applied for new permits via a new entity, Dantoprox. They then told her to resign from Umzumbe and start working as a director at Dantoprox in November 2019.

She mentioned in the criminal complaint that she received a “window-dressing directorship”, was not paid by Dantoprox, had no access to bank accounts, and wasn’t aware if Dantoprox traded and made money.

“I was the only director and was the only one that could run the company, but I was bypassed by simply being ignored. I am a proud Zulu woman and was bitter when I was sidelined by white males who underestimated me and abused the fact that I am black.”

“Dantoprox made MaKhumalo out to be the person in charge, the sole director, and the brains behind the business when they asked the DMRE for a mining permit. That misrepresentation played a major role when Dantoprox was awarded a mining permit,” a DMRE source told Independent Media.

Mseleku alleged the Baronets didn’t tell her that Dantoprox was awarded a mining permit in January this year. The Baronets responded, saying that Mseleku’s allegations were false and defamatory and that Dantoprox was not required to have any black economic empowerment for a mining permit. They confirmed that she was a director from November 4, 2019 to May 6, 2022, but denied any wrongdoing. The DMRE has since suspended the mining permit.

“I want black ladies treated with respect, commercially as well. Apartheid and black economic exclusion are things of the past,” Mseleku remarked.

The Star

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Thobile Mseleku lays charges against ex-business associates