Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza’s spokesperson, Mabutho Sithole, was working as usual on Monday as police investigated an allegation he gave a journalist R5 000 after telling him to drop a story about the premier.
“I’m still the spokesman,” said Sithole, after City Press reported that he allegedly gave journalist Sizwe Sama Yende the money, saying it was a Christmas present.
Yende said this took place after a lunch conversation in which Sithole allegedly insisted the story — which alleges corruption related to a R230-million tender to supply farms with equipment — be dropped.
Yende put the money under the carpet of his car, then opened a case of bribery with the organised crime unit.
Sithole said he would not comment on the allegation as the police were investigating, but so far “nothing has happened”.
Police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi confirmed that a complaint of bribery was lodged and an investigation was under way, but said information on whether anyone had been taken in for questioning would not be discussed.
“It is not for the media to know who we are questioning. Our focus is on the statement given by the complainant.”
He also took issue with Yende writing about the allegation in the publication. “We are making a call to the complainant that he should stop interfering with the work of the police.”
He said Yende should decide if he wanted to continue dealing with the matter through the police, or through the media.
“We have got a case that we are investigating. Why can’t he respect the law?”
‘Opportunity to clear his name’
Government Communication and Information Service spokesperson Themba Maseko said it noted the allegation that Sithole had bribed a journalist, and viewed it in a serious light.
But, it also noted Sithole’s insistence that he is innocent.
“We trust that Mr Sithole will be given an opportunity to clear his name.”
He asked people to report information on corruption to the police.
Yende could not immediately comment, saying he was talking to the police.
Yende on Thursday emailed questions to Sithole about the tender, but was told they were not relevant to the premier’s office, but the department.
According to an article on page two in City Press, when the tender was awarded on September 17 2008, Mabuza was provincial minister for agriculture, land reform and land administration.
Mabuza and Patrick Chirwa were business partners in a close corporation — Above Average Trading Corporation 45 — that had since been deregistered.
Mabuza’s department gave Chirwa’s company, Sizwangendaba Investment, the three-year contract to supply tractors and other farming implements to the province’s rural communities.
Anti-corruption hotline
A probe was launched after a tip-off to the anti-corruption hotline.
Allegedly, the department had not allocated a budget, although according to City Press bidders were told the budget was R150-million. Sizwangendaba reduced its initial quote of R298,3-million to R232,6-million.
Auditors found the department overspent on its 2008/9 budget by R65,7-million due to payments made to the company. A report was handed to former provincial agriculture minister Meshack Malinga and department head Nelisiwe Sithole.
Malinga was replaced during the recent provincial reshuffle.
City Press concluded that Chirwa said he was only a director of another company, Sizwangendaba Development Consultancy. He referred questions to his business partner, Harrington Dhlamini, who did not reply to the newspaper’s messages and calls. — Sapa