EFF Provincial Secretary, Malefane Msimanga, told OFM News that MEC William Bulwane's department allegedly made a massive R180 million payment in advance to contractors who did not do the road construction work.

Also read: Free State Department accused of making shady payments

Msimanga in statement says his party will on Thursday morning furnish the South African Police Services (SAPS) with necessary documents as proof.

Msimanga adds that the EFF, through its public representatives, will further request the department to avail its bank statements from January up until the end of March 2022. However, Bulwane is also today set to hold a media briefing to try and set the record straight on these allegations. 

Also read: Free State department accused of shady payments to respond

In one instance, it is alleged the department paid R47 million upfront for the construction of the Dewetsdorp Road, another R41 million for the construction of the Reitz- and Tweeling Road, and R18 million towards the Thaba Nchu public route.

Bulwane previously told OFM News that "there were five roads where we terminated their contracts. Some of the contractors who were terminated took us to court. They want to continue but we are the ones saying ‘we are defending’, because they left the site on their own. So we were left with no option because there were many accidents on those roads, particularly the Reitz/Tweeling Road. So, it was the same as Life Esidimeni - if anybody wanted to take me to court, I was going to be arrested for negligence. That’s why I said we must terminate and appoint new contractors. We are still awaiting those documents, because as far as I know I have never received anything. It’s difficult to talk about, because it’s in the hands of the court now. The matter is sub judice, and I can’t go into details, but maybe after this case I will go into the details and see if somebody has been paid upfront. If it's corruption, I must deal with it, because the Premier has entrusted me with that responsibility of making sure that I deal with corruption. So, I will deal with it once I have the information".

One of the contractors has since taken the department to the Free State High Court to apply for an interdict against the department and other contractors.

OFM News