The departmental spokesperson, Hillary Mophethe, tells OFM News that the department still stands by the words of MEC William Bulwane and officials who vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

ALSO READ: Free State MEC strongly denies alleged advance payments

Bulwane and Roads Chief Director, Freddie Tokwe, assured the public that the department has never paid the said money but instead they paid far less than what the EFF’s provincial secretary Malefane Msimanga and disgruntled contractors claim was paid.  

ALSO READ; Free State Department accused of making shady payments

Mophethe was reacting to the public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s announcement that she will be investigating the alleged corruption at the department after receiving a complaint from the EFF’s Msimanga.

ALSO READ: Mkhwebane to investigate Free State department

“I can only take you back to the last media briefing session - there are no developments that I know of ever since the media briefing by the MEC (William Bulwane). So that is still the stance of the department there is nothing that I know of or that I’ve heard of so the feedback that was given at the media briefing still stands,” she adds.

According to Mkhwebane’s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, they received a complaint from Msimanga, over the alleged upfront payment of 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. Bulwane has, however, dispelled the accusation as a myth, which he said is propagated by the EFF for cheap political points.

OFM News