Gauteng government unwilling to support Gupta media

23 March 2016

The Gauteng Provincial Government is much more reluctant to spend its advertising budget on the Gupta media empire than its ANC counterparts elsewhere.

According to a written reply to my questions by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, his office spent R450 300 in 2014/15 on advertising in the New Age out of a total advertising spend of R5.3 million in 11 newspapers.

However, a number of Gauteng provincial departments do not advertise at all in the New Age.

The reply is incomplete in respect of all departments, but Health, Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Finance and Local Government have indicated that they spent nothing on New Age advertising in 2014/15.

The Social Development Department spent R162 000 on New Age advertising in 2014/15, the Community Safety Department spent R124 000 and the Transport Department bought R58 636 in advertising.

The lack of spending in the New Age by Gauteng provincial departments probably reflects anti-Zuma feeling in the ANC in Gauteng.

It is a puzzle that the Premier's Office is an exception to this but it is possibly an overlooked carry-on of former premier and Zuma supporter, Nomvula Mokonyane.

The Premier should explain why his office spent disproportionately on advertising in the New Age as it is a waste of money and arouses suspicion that this publication is favoured for political reasons.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Member of the Oversigh Committee on the Premier's Office, 23 March 2016