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The premier views the allegations contained in the article and the conduct of the journalist concerned, in a serious light. - Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni, spokesperson of Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, has instituted a civil claim against a small community newspaper that alleged she dipped her hands into a R100 million medicines cookie jar.

The article alleged that Mtshweni-Tsipane and former Mpumalanga director-general, Makhukhu Mampuru, were behind the theft of the budget which was paid to a supplier who did not deliver the medicines.

According to the Umjindi-Elukwatini Guardian, the medicines that the provincial health department ordered for its depot in Middelburg were not delivered – leaving clinics and hospitals without even headache pills such as panado.

It further 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 after the general elections on May 29.

Mampuru, the Umjindi-Elukwatini Guardian implied, was removed from his position because he allegedly cheated the premier on her share of the R100 million.

Mtshweni-Tsipane said in a statement that the article’s contents bordered on defamation and was written without giving her the right of reply before it was printed.

“The premier views the allegations contained in the article and the conduct of the journalist concerned, in a serious light,” said the Mtshweni-Tsipane’s spokesperson, Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni.

“She has accordingly instituted legal action against the publication and its editor, for defamation. Furthermore, the premier has filed a formal complaint with the press ombudsman,” she added.

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, 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.