Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – While the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is expected to decide within the next month or two whether to prosecute Free State Premier Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae, investigations by this publication have uncovered further questions surrounding the controversial road contract linked to businessman Patrick “The Butcher” Phuti.
Mathae’s fate could soon be determined following explosive allegations made by Phuti in 2024.
An email seen by this publication suggests the NPA is considering its next move and by 15 June to be precise a decision will be taken.
A WhatsApp conversation exchanged between Phuti and Mathae in July 2024 is said to link an official, Tholang Mosianedi to a R100 000 payment made to the ANC Women’s League four days later.
Termination of contract
While the official reason given for the termination of Phuti’s contract was the abandonment of site works, documents obtained by this publication paint an Adam and Eve matters involving a snake picture.
A letter written by Phuti to Thulani Mosianedi, Chief Engineer at the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, reveals mounting financial frustrations over unpaid service providers.
“As per our meeting held on the 14th of June 2024, whereby we agreed we must submit a letter of instruction regarding payments that need to be made to service providers as they deliver,” the letter reads.
Phuti then requested the department to pay suppliers directly on behalf of the project.
The companies listed included:
Danoher (Pty) Ltd – G1 Base Material – R28 million
COPA Del Rey (Pty) Ltd – Surfacing – R13.2 million
KPG (Pty) Ltd – Surfacing – R55 million.
In total, the companies were allegedly owed about R96 million from the R269 million project.
Phuti argued that settling the outstanding payments would prevent further delays.
“As per the meeting held, these payments will ensure that the project cannot suffer any further delays,” he wrote.
Financial statements seen by this publication further show that COPA Del Rey received two payments totalling R1 million within 30 minutes on 27 December 2023. The company has also reportedly secured contracts worth more than R100 million over the past 24 months.
The developments raise questions about whether Phuti was placed in an impossible position. If service providers were not being paid, how was the contractor expected to continue operations?
Notably, the company that later took over the project also abandoned the site last year for similar reasons, yet its contract was not terminated.
Hawks investigation
Sources close to the investigation believe that if the Hawks gain access to messages stored on Phuti’s phone, more individuals could be implicated.
The spotlight has also turned to Mosianedi, who remains in his position despite facing fraud and money laundering charges. He is currently out on R10 000 bail, while the director of the company implicated alongside him has already been sentenced.
The company was paid for services not rendered.
Mathae has publicly defended the transfer of senior officials at Human Settlements, including the CFO Nozipho Molikoe, and SCM DirectorJohn Matlakala, arguing that administrative action was necessary.
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However, questions remain over why no similar action has reportedly been taken against Mosianedi.
As the province waits for the NPA’s decision on the 15 June, the matter continues to raise fresh concerns about political interference, selective accountability and the handling of public infrastructure projects in the Free State.
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