The heat is on for Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae.
The Hawks have confirmed that they are investigating allegations of corruption and money laundering brought forward by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), against her and her husband Lawrence Mathae, who is the Mangaung Metro Council Speaker.
The two are alleged to have accepted bribes to sway a tender.
Letsoha-Mathe and her husband are mentioned in a text message trending on social media. The text message details how she backtracked on her promise made to a contractor. The message that was sent directly to her was leaked to her party, the African National Congress (ANC).
In that message, a contractor who had allegedly paid bribes to the Premier and her husband to secure the tender expressed discontent about his contract being terminated.
“At this stage we are investigating allegations not any particular individual until such time that evidence that would have been gathered would have directed on the person of interest that should be brought before the court of law. The latter is done to protect the integrity of the investigation. It is against this background that we request the public to afford the team that has been nominated to deal with this case space and time to conduct thorough investigation without any undue pressure,” says Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo.
More organisations have raised their voices against the allegations against the Premier.
Non-profit organisation, Mangaung Seven, which investigates cases of maladministration and corruption has also opened a case against the contractor in question and the Head of the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport Department for failure to follow due diligence in appointing a conflicted contractor.
“Now lately after we have done our investigations, we went to the police station to lay charges of maladministration, fraud, corruption in the department and municipalities. So, we opened the case last week Friday at Park Road police station. With allegation of maladministration and appointing the contractor. So, yes, I can…that we did our investigation, and the case has been opened.”
The Democratic Alliance has meanwhile submitted an affidavit to the Hawks with additional information on corruption allegation against Letsoha-Mathae.
“We have drafted an affidavit that indicate that should these allegations be correct that there are at least 10 criminal activities that could have taken place. I have drafted and affidavit and I have also added additional information regarding the contract that were issued to the person who is making these allegations and we will be submitting these to the Hawks with request that they investigate thoroughly,” says Dr DA Free State leader Dr Roy Jankielsohn.
Letsoha-Mathae is expected to also face her organisation’s integrity committee.
Efforts to get comment from the ANC in the Free State were unsuccessful.
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