Fact Check: Why Is Lerato Kganyago’s Name Linked to the Madlanga Commission Probe?
- Social media has been abuzz with claims linking South African media personality Lerato Kganyago to the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
- The 12 On Hillel Villa and Spa, a boutique hotel previously associated with Kganyago, was referenced in witness testimony during the commission’s hearings.
- Lerato's previous allegations of her life being under threat have resurfaced
- 12 On Hillel Villa & Spa issued a response to the speculations
Source: Getty Images
This fact check examines these claims based on available public sources, including live reporting from the hearings and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records.
Claim 1: The 12 On Hillel Villa and Spa is Owned by Lerato Kganyago
Kganyago has publicly discussed her connection to the 12 On Hillel Villa and Spa, a luxury boutique hotel in Johannesburg. According to a 2023 TimesLive interview, Ndlala gifted her the property on Valentine’s Day 2022 as part of her entry into the hospitality industry.
She stated that she had later stepped back from formal membership in the business to focus on other ventures but continued to support it openly.
DON'T MISS IT: Stay Away From Fake News With Our Short, Free Fact-Checking Course. Join And Get Certified!
“It belongs to my husband and I support my husband because whatever is his, I embrace it,” Kganyago told the publication at the time.
CIPC records for the hotel, registered under enterprise number K2021611017, state that Njabulo Goodwill Ndlala was the initial director (resigned February 2023), replaced by Fikile Evancy Ndlala (appointed March 2023), with no mention of Kganyago or husband Thami Ndlala as directors.
Verdict: False.
Source: Twitter
Claim 2: The Hotel Is Mentioned in the Madlanga Commission
Recent sessions of the Madlanga Commission have featured anonymous witnesses detailing alleged corruption, with proceedings closed to the public due to security concerns and active investigations. On Monday, 20 October 2025, “Witness A” referenced the 12 On Hillel Villa and Spa in their testimony. The witness recounted a party hosted by a police officer named Vusi Ndlala at a boutique hotel, attended by senior officials.
A screenshot from the Commission, shared by ENCA's Pule Jones, showed an image of the 12 On Hillel Villa and Spa, confirming the property’s visual identification.
Verdict: True.
Claim 3: Lerato Kganyago Feared for Her Life, Possibly Related to the Hotel
In July 2025, Kganyago publicly shared that she was being followed, expressing fears for her safety in what she described as potentially femicide-related. On Monday, 20 October 2025, an X post from @Burnerburnerac5 speculated that this was instead tied to her husband’s alleged involvement with the boutique hotel and unproven claims of criminal associations.
No evidence directly connects Kganyago’s July 2025 incident to the hotel or the commission’s 2025 hearings.
Verdict: False.
Disclaimer: Based on public records as of 20 October 2025. Neither Lerato Kganyago nor current director of 12 on Hillel Villa and Spa Fikile Evancy Ndlala has been accused of wrongdoing in the commission.
Hotel 12 on Hillel Villa & Spa responds
The management of 12 On Hillel Villa & Spa has issued a response to the speculations through a media statement.
The hotel management commended the role of the Madlanga Commission and welcomed the ongoing investigation. The property also debunked the allegations that it is owned by Vusi Ndlala. Furthermore, the hotel has denied that a party was held on the day that Witness A at the Madlanga Commission alleged.
Regarding the hotel’s connection to Lerato Kganyago, the statement clarified that the celebrity has no operational, managerial, or ownership involvement.
Witness A tells Madlanga Commission about party at hotel
Briefly News reported that the Madlanga Commission also heard testimony about a party that was held at 12 on Hillel Villa and Spa.
Witness A testified that investigators were invited to a party at the boutique where numerous police offers were also spotted.
The witness also detailed how he became uncomfortable when he saw a Major-General's conduct at the party.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
