“There will be an appropriate response” – Jabu Mbalula Spokesperson for ANC, MEC and acting Premier

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The exchange of texts between Lebona Lekoena, the owner of the revamped Insider Chronicle and Jabu Mbalula, spokesperson for the ANC in Free State, MEC for Community Safety Roads and Transport, and acting Premier show exactly what is wrong with ANC and government.

Mbalula who is currently occupying three positions took aim at Lebona for a story in which they reported a case opened against Teboho “Sulky” Mokoena and it’s not clear in which capacity is he responding but he says “we”.

They continued.

Its interesting that Mbalula mostly, responds to matters involving Mokoena and Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae, he has not said anything about any road safety campaigns or festive plans, something that Kwazulu Natal started in October.

Mokoena is no stranger to controversy, weeks leading to elections, leaked WhatsApp texts showed how he moaned about preference given to Mxolisi Dukwana, chairperson of the ANC in the province during campaigning.

Then the trip to Cairo where Mokoena allegedly brought a quotation to SCM.

It had his name and address of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development while he is the MEC for COGTA and Human Settlements .

According to Lebona, this is not the first time he was threatened.

He alleges he faced the same when he reported about Khalipa Thanduxolo, embattled Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng Municipality.

This time it was from Polediso “50 000 Jobs For The Youth” Motsoeneneng, the same man who took to the podium and said the current leadership of the ANC is a result of fraud.

This is the same man who opened a tech hub and handed laptops to a school in Bethlehem, renamed it after his father despite not funding the project.

We know who funded the project but that’s a story for another day.

According to the exchange between Lebona and Motsoeneneng, it’s clear Motsoeneneng has issues with reportage of Insidee, and is concerned that government events are not covered.

Lebona sent him proof that they do cover government events to which Motsoeneneng says he stopped reading their paper, he changed tune and said the stories Lebona sent are never front page.

What Mbalula and Motsoeneneng seem to forget is every newsroom has its editorial line.

If government wants their programs covered they must do advertorial, surely they know this.

The organisation they are leading is facing challenges left, right and centre, governance is collapsing yet they have the audacity to have views on how a media house must run its operations.

If ANC want their image cleaned, they must hire PR firms. Bell Pottinger can do that well.

The same people who suddenly have mouthes to talk were in IPC and dead silent when media outlets reported on Sefora Ntombela led government.

Since Imvelo Conference, service delivery took a back seat, it’s ANC factional wars and squabbles.

Even if Motsoeneneng and those who think like him do not read what they view as distortionists, can they at least read the bible.

‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?’

Let Insider run their paper however they see fit and saying you don’t read their paper does not change the fact that ANC members who worked in the office of Premier will have a bleak Christmas after their contracts were not renewed and ANC said nothing about it.

Our support fir Insider is based on principle and below is a quote is driving us to defend it.

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller