Ace’s possible premier successors compromised
13 March 2018
With time running out for Premier Ace Magashule to vacate his office, the choices for a replacement for Premier of the Free State are very restricted.
A front runner for the position, Ms Mmathabo Leeto, the MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, is compromised by serious criminal charges against her. She faces two (2) counts of corruption, three (3) counts of fraud and five (5) counts of money laundering relating to her term as Mayor of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality. In a reply to DA Member of the National Council of Provinces, George Michalakis, the Minister of Police confirmed that the charges were reinstated against the MEC "after further investigations were conducted and the police secured additional evidence which they were previously unable to secure when charges were initially preferred against her".
In the same reply, the Minister also confirmed that "the matter against MEC for the Free State Department of Environmental Affairs, Tourism, Economic Affairs and Small Business Development, Dr Benny Malakoane, and 6 Others has been set down for trial from 13-27 March 2018". The charges against MEC Malakoane are two (2) counts of corruption, four (4) counts of fraud, four (4) counts of money laundering and three (3) counts of contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Another front runner for the position, the MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Sam Mashinini, heads up a department in which corruption and nepotism was entrenched under the deceased former Head of Department, Mr Msibi. The MEC's motives for failing to take action against the former HOD in the face of overwhelming evidence of criminal activities are a source of concern.