Free State premier hits back after CEO accuses her of corruption

The Premier of the Free State, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, is once again facing a backlash after a screenshot posted by the CEO of New Beginnings project, Patrick Phuti, accusing the premier of participating in corruption, was seen on social media.

In the screenshot, Phuti accuses the premier of mismanagement of funds given to her on the basis that Letsoha-Mathae and her husband, MMM speaker Lawrence Mathae, claiming that the couple used funds that were given to them by Phuti and the CEO of Tau Pele.

Phuti expressed his disgust and anger towards the premier claiming that she used his project as an example to discredit the CEO and make him seem like a failure.

“I have paid invoices and transported people that went with you to the Women’s League conference. I bought a car for the Mathae family – V 300 Class, black, to be specific – I paid over R400 000 for your event when you were launching the same project, but today it’s like nothing ever happened,” said Phuti.

The premier released a statement and claimed that the allegations are unfounded. “The premier wishes to categorically distance herself from these malicious and unfounded allegations levelled against her, and implores the individual or individuals from the said establishment, to approach law enforcement agencies to lay charges in support of his allegations,” the statement mentioned.

Letsoha-Mathae has now taken legal action regarding this matter, stating that her legal representatives have sent a formal letter to the CEO of New Beginnings, requesting that due process be followed and that any further communication, if necessary, will be through her lawyers.

Letsoha-Mathae said she remains committed to clean governance and further expressed that service providers who failed at completing projects, will not have space in her administration.