According to Mkhwebane’s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, they received a complaint from the Free State Economic Freedom Fgihters's (EFF) Provincial Secretary, Malefane Msimanga, over the alleged upfront payment of the said money to contractors.

Responding to the EFF’s complaint, Segalwe says upon analysis of the supporting documents provided, it became clear that the amounts highlighted by Msimanga are worth more than the R180 million.

Msimanga, previously told OFM News his party opened a case of corruption against the Department. MEC, William Bulwane, has however, dispelled the accusation as a myth, which he said is propagated by the EFF for cheap political points.

ALSO READ: Free State MEC strongly denies alleged advanced payments

MEC Bulwane said there was never an advance payment of R180 million to any contractors. But he did, however, mention that an amount of R165 million was paid to contractors who have already completed and are continuing with construction of the roads.

“If you check all five jobs - regarding the R165 million that we have already paid, including the site establishment money - it's far less than the actual work to conclude this project at a total of R806 million. Only R165 million was paid. It’s not true that there is money paid in advance, government can’t pay money in advance. I’ve never seen that in a number of spheres of government, I've never seen that.

“So, we want to dispel that notion here. I'm not going to lower myself running after the EFF because I know to them its cheap mileage that they want. I don’t have time to waste. I will not be taking the EFF to court following these allegations against this department. Once I’ve clarified this matter with you, I am done with this one and I want to go and do my work. I'm not going to take the EFF to the court, saying they defamed us, talked bad about the department... it’s their job,” Bulwane said.

OFM News