New "Infogate" scandal in Free State must be probed

The DA has asked the Auditor General to investigate Premier Ace Magashule's abuse of R140 million for a Free State government website (see report).

This follows a Sowetan exposé that Premier Magashule awarded a contract to businessman Tumi Ntsele to build the most expensive website in the history of South Africa.

The channelling of millions of public funds into propaganda projects is bigger than just this website, the DA recently revealed.

Premier Magashule is running a campaign to buy media influence and enriching his comrades in business at the same time.

The DA recently revealed how Premier Magashule spent R12 million on his own television channel in the last financial year.

The contract for Hlasela TV was awarded to the same person as the website tender, Mr Ntsele, a politically-connected businessman.

Mr Ntsele's Letlaka Group also runs The Weekly newspaper which has long been propped up by Free State government funding, just like the New Age.

The DA previously revealed that the Premier's Office is planning to roll-out a further 3 new propaganda newspapers in the Free State using public funds.

It is unacceptable that public funds are being used to prop up the image of a failing Premier while basic service delivery collapses in the Free State.

The DA will continue to campaign for the cancellation of these propaganda projects and for all irregularities to be investigated.

Statement issued by Patricia Kopane, DA Leader in the Free State, March 4 2013

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