JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - President Thabo Mbeki's political adviser, a foreign ministry official and a businessman have made a major bid to take over one of South Africa's most influential media groups, their company said on Sunday.
Groovin Nchabeleng, chief executive of Koni Media Holdings, told Reuters that the investment company made a 7 billion rand offer to buy 100 percent of Johncom, which owns South Africa's Sunday Times and other newspapers.
Political adviser to the presidency Titus Mafolo, foreign ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa, and former chief of state protocol Billy Modise have shares in Koni Media Holdings, with Nchabeleng as the majority owner.
The move has already drawn more criticism from Mbeki's opponents, who accuse him of hurting South Africa's democracy by purging opponents and stifling dissent, allegations he denies.
It may also spark controversy at a time when Mbeki's political rivals are watching his every move as he competes in the race to lead the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which traditionally leads to the presidency.
"No one will have any illusions that the group attempting to take over Johncom is acting on behalf of political principals who are synonymous with the Mbeki faction in the ruling party," said the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesman, Dene Smuts, who is also an MP.
Nchabeleng said there were no political motivations behind the bid, which he described as part of his business strategy.
"This would be an integrated media company that will play a significant role in Africa and compete globally. It is one of the major acquisitions that Koni media will be looking at for key strategic assets and integration," he said.
Koni Media Holdings said in a statement that it "denied any involvement of the presidency or any other government structures" in its bid for Johncom.
Mbeki is constitutionally barred from serving again when his term expires in 2009, though nothing prevents him from running for another stint as leader of the ANC, which would give him influence even after he steps down as head of state.
Another top candidate is his rival, ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma. He is backed by powerful trade unions but may be recharged in an arms corruption case that has hounded him.
Speculation has been growing that highly-respected business tycoon Cyril Ramaphosa will join the ANC race as it enters the final stretch. The party will choose a new leader in December.
Ramaphosa, 54, a former trade unionist, was the ANC's chief negotiator during talks that led to a peaceful end to apartheid in 1994 and Nelson Mandela becoming South Africa's first black president.
The ANC succession debate has triggered some of the worst infighting in its history and overshadowed crucial issues such as rampant crime and inequalities left by decades of apartheid that are troubling millions of South Africans.
Mamoepa said Mbeki had never been consulted on Johncom and dismissed any notions that the government played any role.
"These suggestions are just thunder and lightning and have no significance," he told Reuters. "We did this on the basis of our constitutional rights to engage in such activities."
