The Luxury Life of Thembi Simelane: Designer Shopping, Cash Properties & Disney Trips

Polokwane's mayor, Justice Minister Thembi Simelane's lavish lifestyle raised serious questions. With designer shopping sprees and cash property purchases, her expenses far exceeded her official salary. Here, we tell how we traced every cent of Simelane's money trail from 2016 to 2020, revealing the gap between her income and her luxury spending. Reporting by: Pauli van Wyk (Daily Maverick) and Kyle Cowan (News24) Filmed by: Bernard Kotze Edited by: Malibongwe Tyilo Subbed by: Kevin Flynn Produced by: Emilie Gambade Read more on Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-12-03-thembi-simelanes-unexplained-cash-part-one-shopping-therapy-a-property-bought-cash-disney-world-trips/ Subscribe to Daily Maverick YouTube channel. If you want to support journalism that is having a positive effect on South Africa, become a Maverick Insider: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/ Your benefits? Up to 50% off tickets to all events; always-on 10% discount at the Daily Maverick Shop; sign up for R200 or more per month and get R200 back in Pick n’Pay vouchers. See T&Cs for more details; ad-free browsing; comment on articles and a ‘behind-the-scenes’ bi-weekly newsletter.