The provincial government’s spokesperson, Sello Pietersen, told OFM News that Ntombela is aware of the allegations the DA made, and should the Public Protector’s Office investigate, she is willing to subject herself to cooperation. This follows after it was alleged that Ntombela, together with the ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa, used the Free State Provincial Government’s funds to purchase a house for a less privileged family with the impression that it was bought with ANC’s funds.

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Pietersen further explained that Ntombela remains committed to the provision of services to the people of the province, including through the provision of housing to those who need and qualify for them. “The premier appreciates and always upholds the highest forms of good governance and transparency,” he added.

The DA’s leader in the Free State, Roy Jankielson, previously alleged that the Letsema launch on 23 April 2022 has resulted in taxpayers’ money being used to buy a house for a Bloemfontein resident, Lerato Ntsaku. The problem is not the house being bought, as he stated. As the party, they support the allocation and transfer of houses to beneficiaries in need, however, the ANC has given the impression that the R133 000 was bought with their funds.

Jankielson says the impression was created through ANC’s social media posts and also handing it over during the Letsema launch. He has also alleged that the ANC has made no attempts to remedy the perception that the house was paid for by the ANC and not the provincial government. “The MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements (Cogta), Mxolisi Dukwana, confirmed in a question in the legislature that the house was handed over as part of the Letsema Campaign,” he added.

The DA in the province is calling on the Public Protector to investigate the spending of state resources by the ANC. They are of the view that there will be findings similar to the report of Operation Hlasela, when the Free State provincial government’s funds were allegedly used by the ANC to fund Operation Hlasela. Jankielson concluded by saying that the R133 000 that allegedly bought the house, must be paid back and a public apology must be given for allegedly abusing state resources, among other remedial actions.

OFM News