Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The circumstances surrounding how Free State Provincial Government spokesperson Tshidi Setai allegedly pushed the ANC to issue a statement defending Premier Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae are becoming clearer.
This follows a story published last week in which Setai labelled ANC provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko “disingenuous” after he allegedly refused to issue a statement demanding that Mahlengi Bengu liaise with him. Setai had reportedly claimed Bengu instructed the province, a claim that was later disputed.
Newly obtained text messages, purportedly exchanged between Setai and Polediso Motsoeneneng, appear to shed further light on the matter.
In the messages, Setai is seen raising concerns about Meeko with Motsoeneneng.
“Grand Rising Mongodi… Cde Thabo is out of line, ke kopa o re kopanye… we are preparing for ur Provincial ANC Lekgotla and we need to be focused in ur agenda to defend the organisation and its leaders from any form of infiltration by forces whose agenda is to cause disunity… which he doesn’t seem to comprehend. We can’t allow those who purport to be media to drive an agenda and narrative that is against us.”
In a response attributed to Motsoeneneng, he appears to side with Setai rather than cautioning her.
“I requested him to write a statement rebutting that nonsense and I haven’t seen the statement even now.”
Setai then replied:
“Thanks for providing leadership Cde Polediso…🙏🏽”
Read in context, the exchanges may reveal deeper tensions within provincial ANC structures.
This publication is in possession of text messages from Meeko, Setai and Motsoeneneng.
Notably, only one individual had access to all three conversations.
Among the trio, questions remain about who may have leaked the correspondence.
Setai is embroiled in legal war with National Department of Transport over the R4.3 million settlement despite being dismissed for gross dishonesty among 13 charges she faced.
Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy has vowed to launch forensic investigation into Setai’s settlement.
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