Image: Bosanku Msimanga, Mxolisi Dukwana and Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae
By Thabo Mosia
In a shocking revelation, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Free State Provincial Secretary, Bosanku Msimanga, said during an interview on The Current Review on Central News that ANC Free State Provincial Chairperson, Mxolisi Dukwana, confirmed to him that the corruption allegations involving Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and her husband, Lawrence Mathae, are true. The explosive disclosure, made on Tuesday, has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the embattled premier and her husband, who have been accused of being involved in corrupt activities.
Msimanga stated that Dukwana had personally communicated with him over the weekend, providing direct confirmation that the serious allegations, which have been swirling for months, were indeed true. According to Msimanga, Dukwana even mentioned seeing incriminating messages on Premier Letsoha-Mathae’s phone, which allegedly implicated her in corrupt dealings.
These revelations come on the back of accusations first raised by businessman Patrick Phuti, who claims he was “dumped” by Premier Letsoha-Mathae after a tender deal went sour. Phuti has also accused Lawrence Mathae, the Speaker of Mangaung Metro Municipality, of being complicit in the shady dealings. The allegations have led to an official investigation by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit.
The EFF Opens Corruption Case Against Letsoha-Mathae
The EFF wasted no time in acting on these allegations, opening a corruption case against Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and her husband, Lawrence Mathae. The move was prompted by businessman Patrick Phuti, who alleged that he had secured lucrative government contracts by pampering the couple with lavish gifts, including a luxury car. According to Phuti, his business relationship with the premier soured after his favours and gifts were no longer reciprocated.
“We opened a case against Maqueen and Lawrence, and we hope it will not die like other cases involving politicians,” said EFF Free State Chairperson, Coach Liphoko. He added that the party had urged the ANC to enforce its “step-aside” rule against the premier and her husband, who also serves as the Mangaung Metro Speaker. Liphoko further warned that if the ANC failed to take action, the EFF would table a motion of no confidence against the two ANC officials.
The corruption case was officially opened at Parkweg Police Station on Friday, 11 October 2024, adding to the mounting pressure on Premier Letsoha-Mathae and her husband to step down from their positions of power.
Allegations of Tender Corruption: A Businessman’s Story
The saga began when Patrick Phuti, owner of New Beginnings Projects, claimed that his company was awarded a contract worth R269 million by the Free State Department of Roads and Transport, which was headed by Letsoha-Mathae when she was MEC. Phuti stated that his three-year contract for road maintenance was abruptly terminated seven months ago, leaving him furious.
“I bought Lawrence a Mercedes-Benz V-Class 300 that’s worth more than R2 million. When things went sour, I sent my guys to their house to repossess the vehicle. Lawrence said, ‘Pat, please don’t do that’, and I said, ‘f**k you, I am taking this car,’” Phuti told the media.
Bank statements reportedly show that Phuti did indeed purchase the luxury vehicle for Mathae. He further claimed that after his contract was terminated, Letsoha-Mathae’s department appointed another company, Tau Pele Construction, to take over the project. According to Phuti, Tau Pele was also involved in corrupt dealings with the premier.
“I was given R1 million by Tau Pele to hand over to Maqueen at Southern Sun Hotel in Bloemfontein as part of helping her family. Tau Pele was also pushing its own agenda to be in good books with Maqueen,” Phuti alleged.
Phuti claimed that Frans Bouwer, the group managing director of Tau Pele, gave him another R2 million to deliver to the premier. Phuti revealed that he also paid large sums of money for various favours, including R500,000 for Mathae’s husband to use muthi (traditional medicine) and R100,000 for taxis to transport attendees to an ANC Women’s League conference.
“I have all these records. When I think of all these, my heart breaks because I have protected you and your family, but when you make examples of failures, you use my project,” said Phuti in a WhatsApp message he reportedly sent to Premier Letsoha-Mathae.
Letsoha-Mathae Denies Allegations, Hires Advocate Majavu
Despite the mounting evidence and public allegations, Premier Letsoha-Mathae has vehemently denied any involvement in corruption. Through her spokesperson, Tshidiso Nkgwedi, she distanced herself from the claims, stating that her legal representatives had sent a formal letter to Phuti, requesting him to clarify his accusations.
“The premier wishes to indicate that her legal representatives addressed a formal letter to the CEO of New Beginnings earlier today, 11 October 2024, and will allow due process to unfold. All further communication, if any, will be through her lawyers,” said Nkgwedi.
Letsoha-Mathae has enlisted the services of high-profile advocate Zola Majavu to defend her against the corruption allegations. In a letter addressed to Phuti, Majavu accused the businessman of making false claims and demanded that he disavow the statements he made via text message.
“We wish to confirm that you are indeed the author thereof or disavow it. In any event, we have been furnished with sufficient evidence linking you to unlawful conduct,” wrote Majavu.
Majavu further stated that Letsoha-Mathae’s ex-husband, Lawrence Mathae, should be dealt with separately, implying that the premier should not be held accountable for her former husband’s actions. “Our client is her persona distinct from her ex-husband. To the extent that you might have an axe to grind with her ex-husband, you were directed to raise such issues or make those allegations directly,” he added.
Majavu’s letter challenged Phuti to report the allegations to law enforcement agencies, should he continue to assert their veracity. He also issued a public demand for an apology, warning Phuti against further dissemination of the claims.
Hawks Confirm Investigation Into Corruption Allegations
The allegations against Letsoha-Mathae and her husband have not gone unnoticed by law enforcement. The Hawks confirmed on Monday that they are investigating the corruption claims, which were brought forward by the EFF.
Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, national spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that an investigation was underway. “We can confirm that an investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering that were brought afore by EFF is underway,” said Mbambo.
She clarified that at this stage, the investigation is focused on the allegations rather than specific individuals. The Hawks urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed without undue pressure, emphasizing the importance of protecting the integrity of the probe.
“It is against this background that we request the public to afford the team in this case space and time. This is so as to conduct a thorough investigation without any undue pressure,” said Mbambo.
Businessman’s Claims of Lavish Gifts for Government Tenders
Phuti’s claims paint a picture of a businessman who sought to secure government tenders by lavishing gifts on powerful politicians. He alleged that he paid the Mathaes millions of rands in cash and purchased a Mercedes-Benz V-Class 300d for Lawrence Mathae. These gifts, according to Phuti, were part of his efforts to curry favour and secure lucrative government contracts.
The businessman stated that his company, New Beginnings Projects, was awarded a R269 million tender to maintain a 37.4km stretch of road between Tweespruit and Excelsior when Letsoha-Mathae was MEC of roads, transport, and police. However, after Letsoha-Mathae was appointed premier in May 2024, Phuti claimed she began to ignore him, and their relationship soured.
Phuti’s allegations, if proven true, could result in serious legal consequences for Letsoha-Mathae and her husband. The Hawks’ investigation is expected to gather evidence to determine the validity of these claims.
ANC Remains Silent on Corruption Allegations
Despite the gravity of the allegations against one of its top leaders, the ANC in the Free State has remained largely silent on the matter. The party has not responded to multiple requests for comment from various media outlets, including invitations to participate in interviews on The Current Review. This silence has raised concerns about the ANC’s commitment to transparency and accountability, particularly regarding the enforcement of its “step-aside” rule.
The step-aside rule, which was introduced to prevent party members facing serious criminal charges from holding public office, has been a point of contention within the ANC. Critics argue that the party has been selective in its application of the rule, allowing politically connected individuals to remain in power despite facing serious allegations.
As the investigation by the Hawks continues, pressure is mounting on the ANC to take decisive action against Letsoha-Mathae and her husband. The EFF has already indicated that it will table a motion of no confidence if the ANC fails to act.
Legal Battles Ahead for Letsoha-Mathae?
The legal battles surrounding Letsoha-Mathae and her husband are likely to intensify in the coming weeks. With Advocate Zola Majavu leading her defence and the Hawks conducting their investigation, the case could potentially become one of the most high-profile corruption cases in South Africa’s recent history.
Watch Discussion into Corruption Allegations against Maqueen by Various Political Parties: