By Thabo Mosia
Social Activist Edgar Legoale has publicly voiced his concerns about the media’s treatment of Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. According to Legoale, Lesufi, who is regarded as a potential future leader of the ANC, is facing a well-orchestrated propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting his achievements. “Even a blind person can see that there’s a media propaganda campaign against him, and a lot of money has been invested into it. The man has done a lot of good work for Gauteng, but now when you search on Google, it’s all about corruption and fabricated stories. If you can connect the dots, you can see who in the ANC is behind all this,” Legoale stated.
This media onslaught, as per Legoale, began gaining traction as Lesufi’s name started circulating as a possible future ANC president. Within ANC circles, Lesufi’s rising influence has caused discomfort for some factions, and Legoale believes that the attacks on Lesufi are politically motivated from within the ANC. This comes at a time when factions within the party are lobbying for power ahead of the next ANC elective conference.
In a response to these allegations, Lesufi has also expressed frustration over what he perceives as a calculated effort to tarnish his reputation. The Premier recently addressed accusations of corruption leveled against him by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and AfriForum, noting that they are pushing a narrative to “destabilize” Gauteng under his leadership. Lesufi stated, “I’m sure many of you have now witnessed the relentless and desperate campaign the DA is running to unseat me as Premier… They are running a campaign to paint me as corrupt, irrational, and an ANC rogue”  .
Lesufi’s political standing has become a hot topic, particularly with the DA calling for multiple forensic reports on alleged corruption within Gauteng’s departments to be made public. These include accusations of corruption cover-ups dating back to his predecessor’s tenure. The DA’s Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga, has gone as far as accusing Lesufi of protecting ANC officials implicated in corruption  . Lesufi, however, has refuted these claims, arguing that many of the accusations pertain to periods when he wasn’t in power, stating, “In 2016, I was not the Premier. You are barking up the wrong tree and crying at the wrong funeral” .
Political analysts believe that the mounting pressure on Lesufi is not just from opposition parties but also from within the ANC itself. As Lesufi’s influence within the ANC grows, especially with discussions of him being a future leader, internal factions that feel threatened by his rise are allegedly using media platforms to sway public perception against him. This complex internal struggle is playing out in public, making Lesufi a lightning rod for both external and internal attacks.
Lunathi Kilani, a supporter of Lesufi, echoed these sentiments, comparing the smear campaign against him to the tactics used during the political downfall of former President Jacob Zuma. Kilani warned Lesufi to be vigilant and proactive in countering these narratives, advising him to take control of the media cycle and not allow “malicious narratives” to take hold unchallenged .
Despite these challenges, Lesufi remains determined to continue his work in Gauteng. He has overseen major projects in the province, especially in education, where his tenure as MEC was widely praised. Yet, these achievements have been overshadowed by a series of corruption allegations, which Lesufi maintains are either fabricated or exaggerated for political purposes.
In the latest twist, AfriForum has also entered the fray, accusing Lesufi of covering up corruption related to R2 billion worth of fraudulent contracts in the Gauteng Department of Social Development. The DA has similarly requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa issue a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe these allegations .
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