“She was played” Lerato Kganyago is not the real owner the hotel she claimed to receive from Thami Ndlala on Valentines

Lies have short legs. Mzansi was made to believe radio personality Lerato Kganyago was the owner of a hotel and spar in Northcliff, Johannesburg, when her husband Thami Ndlala pulled a publicity stunt.

According to companies registry records, the owner of 12 Hillel Villa and Spa is Njabulo Goodwill Ndlala, the sole director of the business. The company officially does not list Lerato as a director. She is just fronting, according to sources who spoke to City Press.

Riding on valentines day

How did Thami and Lerato fool South Africans about the hotel? Sources close to the couple said the two knew Mzansi would expect Thami’s gift to Lerato on Valentine’s day to be significant. Previously, Thami rented the whole 94 000-seater FNB Stadium to host his valentines party with his mistress. He had musician Zonke Dikana singing for them during the night.

So massive was the expectation that the couple decided it was time to promote the hotel.

Lerato shared the images of the renovated 12 Hillel Villa and Spa on her Instagram account last February with the caption, “Ladies and gents, I introduce to you my new baby, @12onHillel. Naming the restaurant Amor, meaning Lerato, Thando, Love. You’re all welcome.”

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She revealed that she was hiring new staff for her baby and creating employment for a few South Africans. Her journey in the hospitality industry was supposedly kicking off.

The story about three directors

One of the close people who spoke to City Press revealed that three directors owned the business and premises: Thami, Tshepo and Ndu.

We spent most weekends at the hotel as my boyfriend is friends with Thami, the source claimed

When contacted for comment, Thami denied fooling Mzansi on the hotel gift but insisted 12 Hillel Villa and Spa is owned by her wife, whom she gave as Valentine’s gift. He denied co-owning it with other directors.

I don’t know about any Thsepo and Mdu, I bought the hotel as a gift to my wife on valentines and she shared it on her Instagram

Lerato did not respond directly to questions sent to her. She told the journalists to ‘run with whatever they have. The hotel recently had a soft launch with model Sarah Langa at the event. Similar events are lined up.

Lerato and Thami’s rocky relationship.

Lerato and Thami has had a bizarre kind of relationship. Following their marriage in 2020, the couple divorced a few months later, with rumours suggesting Lerato discovered the dark side of her millionaire husband’s business. Reports indicate Lerato did not want to be dragged into the fraud Thami allegedly practises as a business. The couple did not clear the air about their divorce but rekindled their relationship shortly with lavish gifts. Lerato was also seen driving many of Thami’s cars.