FS premier on special leave in wake of corruption allegations, Mbalula's brother acts in her position
A contractor claims he bought luxury vehicles for the premier and her husband Lawrence Mathae, who is a speaker of the Mangaung metro in exchange for tenders while she was Community Safety MEC.
Free State Free State premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae. Picture: Facebook.com/Free State Provincial Government
JOHANNESBURG - Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae has taken special leave in the face of growing allegations of corruption against her.
A contractor claims he bought luxury vehicles for the premier and her husband Lawrence Mathae, who is a speaker of the Mangaung metro in exchange for tenders while she was Community Safety MEC.
The businessman is understood to have blown the whistle on the arrangement after the department terminated his contract.
Letsoha-Mathae is likely to be summoned to appear before the African National Congress (ANC)'s Integrity Committee.
Jabu Mbalula was sworn into office on Thursday and is expected to act as the Free State's premier until 15 December.
Letsoha-Mathae will be away for at least a month. This is according to a short memo she sent to her executive.
In the short time she’s been premier, she has faced a series of accusations – including the purging of staffers from her office, the firing of contract workers from the province and now the involvement in corrupt activities during her previous stint as MEC.
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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State has criticised the development and said her leave is a loophole aimed at avoiding her early exit from office.
The EFF has also rejected the appointment of the young Mbalula to the acting role, claiming he's also corrupt and that this decision is merely to appease his older brother.
The red berets say this move should be seen as an insult to the people of the Free State.