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The paper alleged that Mtshweni-Tsipane and former Mpumalanga director-general, Makhukhu Mampuru, masterminded the theft but ended up having a fall out because Mampuru allegedly cheated the premier on her share.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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Mpumalanga ANC secretary, Muzi Chirwa, has rubbished claims of a R100 million medicines heist that have prodded Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane to sue a community newspaper.

Chirwa said that the party has however asked for a full report from government.

The Umjindi-Elukwatini Guardian published an article alleging that the amount was paid to a supplier who did not deliver medicines at the depot in Middleburg, and the money was diverted towards the premier’s campaign for a second term after the general elections.

The paper also alleged that Mtshweni-Tsipane and former Mpumalanga director-general, Makhukhu Mampuru, masterminded the theft but ended up having a fall out because Mampuru allegedly cheated the premier on her share.

Due to the non-delivery, said the paper, clinics and hospitals were left without even headache tablets such as panado.

“There’s nothing to that matter. We referred that matter to government and we are yet to get a response, but there is nothing to it,” Chirwa said.

The paper alleged that the money was paid to enable Mtshweni-Tsipane to  buy ANC’s National Working Committee members to recommend to President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint her for a second term as premier.

Mtshweni-Tsipane has since served Umjindi-Elukwatini Guardian with court papers indicating that she has decided to take legal action. She said that the article’s contents bordered on defamation and she was not given the right of reply before it was printed.

Her spokesperson, Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni, said that she had also filed a formal complaint with the press ombudsman.

The DA has since indicated that it was going to call on public protector, Advocate Kholeka Ngcaleka, to investigate the allegations.

Mkani-Mpolweni said: “She welcomes and supports any investigation into the matter. She further states that she will cooperate fully with the said investigation.”

Umjindi-Elukwatini Guardian editor, Bheki Mashile, said that he stood by his story. “The Guardian firmly stands behind its work and, moreover, keeping in line with journalism ethics and standards including the right of reply,” Mashile said.

Mpumalanga DA leader, Jane Sithole, has said that several patients and healthcare workers were reporting gross shortage of medication in many public health institutions like Rob Ferreira Hospital, Lydenburg Hospital, Witbank Hospital and several clinics across the province.

“A patient who spoke to the DA last week, claimed that he recently spent two weeks in Rob Ferreira Hospital and had to buy his own medication because there was none in the institution,” Sithole said.

“These allegations are not far-fetched if you take into consideration the fact that the faction of Mandla Ndlovu, the current ANC Mpumalanga chairperson, are mobilising support for him to take over from Mtshweni-Tsipane as premier after the upcoming elections,” she added.

Sithole said that if the allegations turned out to be true, it would mean that Mpumalanga’s public healthcare users were collateral damage to Mtsweni-Tsipane’s political survival and her endeavours of keeping her position as premier.

“This would be very cruel and that is why the DA wants the public protector to get involved and do an urgent investigation to this damning matter,” she said.