JOHANNESBURG – Free State Prime Minister Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae has taken special leave amid mounting corruption allegations against her.
A contractor claims he bought luxury vehicles for the Prime Minister and her Mangaung Metro speaker husband Lawrence Mathae in exchange for tenders while she was Community Safety MEC.
The businessman is said to have raised the alarm after the department canceled his contract.
Letsoha-Mathae is likely to be summoned to appear before the African National Congress (ANC) Integrity Committee.
Jabu Mbalula was sworn in on Thursday and is expected to be Prime Minister of the Free State until December 15.
Letsoha-Mathae will be away for at least a month. This is evident from a short memo she sent to her director.
In her short time as prime minister, she has faced a series of allegations – including removing staffers from her office, firing contract workers from the province and now being involved in corrupt activities during her previous stint as an MP.
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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State have criticized the development, saying her departure is a loophole designed to prevent her premature departure from office.
The EFF has also rejected the appointment of young Mbalula for the acting role, claiming that he is also corrupt and that this decision is only aimed at appeasing his older brother.
The Red Berets say this move should be seen as an insult to the people of the Free State.
Tshidi Madia
www.ewn.co.za