Mahasa’s suspension extended while Hod who has taken responsibility is scot free

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The extension of suspension meted out to Limakatso Mahasa, Member of Executive Council for Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation by the Free State Province Premier, Mxolisi Dukwana on Friday while Steve Tshabalala, Head of Department goes scot-free shows partiality on the Premier.

Mahasa initially suspended from 15 May 2024 till 30 May 2024, following her letter to Tshabalala asking for three reports including the disastrous Freedom Day celebration in which Dukwana allegedly chose the venue and gave instructions to Tshabalala directly yet blamed Mahasa.

LISTEN: Tshabalala takes full responsibility of the Freedom Day event mess and another MEC goes MIA on the departmental event, will Dukwana act?

On Friday, 31 May 2024, Mahasa received another letter extending her suspension till further notice, the letter is signed by Dukwana.

Among what Mahasa requested are the following:

• Sonaqua was appointed service provider and if procurement processes were followed
• Premier League Tournament costs
• Macufe Golf service provider

Sonaqua is the same company that has suddenly become the go-to company since the Imvelo conference and has been a preferred company for Free State Health as well. With no less than 4 events under its belt since MEC Leeto took over.

In 2022 it formed a consortium with Dot Design for Macufe and challenged the decision of SARC to appoint Consumer Connectednesses (C-2).

Free State Education MEC, Makalo Mohale was appointed to act while Mahasa was on suspension.

Mohale’s Education spent over R10 million on three events last year in August.

Are events the core of Education or just plain looting?

The submission to move money for these three events was approved on the 24 August 2023 while the first event was on the 25 August 2023.

Among companies that got the jobs are three friends who are working for one of the eateries in Bloemfontein.

With elections done and dusted, and ANC getting 16 seats hopefully, parliament committees will hold Dukwana and his MECs accountable.

This will include the same legislature allegedly employing staff despite applying after closing date.

In other news the ANC is reportedly engaged in extended Provincial Working Committee meeting, at least two members in the top 16 are allegedly asked to resign to allow Kelebogile Thulo who is number (18) and Thabo Meeko (17) Meeto move up the least.

Thulo joined Free State Provincial Treasury immediately after the chaotic conference is allegedly a deputy director or director.

Her qualifications for the job she held at Treasury will be a story on its own.

Should two members resign. It will not be the first time. The last time this happened, Mojalefa Buti was promised heaven and earth only to be dumped like a used condom.

This is a developing story.

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