According to the EFF provincial secretary, Bosanku Msimanga, the party is in possession of court documents detailing these allegations – including a WhatsApp text - allegedly from Ntombela to the former head of the department (HOD) of Police, Roads and Transport, Sipho Mtakati. Msimanga says the text sent to Mtakati seems to instruct him to appoint a certain company. He alleges this clearly puts the premier at the centre of corruption and is in breach of her oath of office. Bosanku says the EFF has since approached the Office of the Public Protector (PP) to have this alleged conduct by Ntombela investigated.
 
“She has basically broken her oath of office. She is in contravention of section 217 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which says whenever you are to do business with any entity of government it must be done in a fair and transparent manner and it has to be done in a competitive manner. By trying to influence the outcome of a bid process for a tender - to suggest it goes to a particular person - is a clear interference on the side of the premier (Sisi Ntombela),” he adds. 

OFM News has since sent questions to the Office of the Premier and they are yet to comment.

In the court document, a text which is purported to be from the premier – the name of the company, registration number and government Central Supplier Database (CSD) of a company was sent to Mtakati. 

OFM News previously reported that Ntombela has since removed Mtakati from his position at the Provincial Department of Police, Roads and Transport, without giving reasons for the move. She moved him to the Provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Just months later, after his removal, MEC Sam Mashinini was also axed.  
Mtakati details in his affidavit that since his appointment in the position as HOD, Premier Ntombela made several requests for certain private companies to be appointed on various projects in the department. This department is handling multi-million rand contracts on an annual basis for road construction and maintenance of government-owned buildings.

He says in his founding affidavit in court that Ntombela wanted him to appoint a certain company, known to OFM News, in respect of a contract of fumigation of department offices. The matter was heard by Justice Joseph Mhlambi.
 
Axed MEC Mashinini meanwhile revealed during an interview with the SABC’s SAfm that there was interference with his department by means of reshuffling accounting officers in his department. He said he was approached by his HOD and shown a letter of transfer to the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation.  
 
A spokesperson for Ntombela’s office, Sello Pietersen, told OFM News that Ntombela’s decision isn’t an affront to Mashinini per se, but rather a result of her wanting to resolve the issues at Free State municipalities by roping in someone as experienced as Mxolisi Dukwana in the role of MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).

OFM News