The ANC has accused the Daily Dispatch of running an “well-orchestrated” campaign to collapse the Eastern Cape government and tarnish the image of premier Phumulo Masualle.
“We are disappointed that the ANC elected not to confront the Daily Dispatch with these allegations, which we would have directly refuted.”
It is not the first accusation directed at the Dispatch recently.
“For the past week we have been confronted with false accusations that we are spying on the premier of the province, Phumulo Masualle,” Siqoko said.
“This accusation was formally raised this week when officials from the premier’s office visited our newsroom to discuss our continuing working relationship.
“Incidentally the meeting was cordial and fruitful.”
Siqoko said the statement coincided with “consistent” information that the safety of some of the paper’s senior staff, including himself, was in danger.
“Security experts have since confirmed that these threats are credible and need to be taken seriously.
“As a result Tiso Blackstar Ltd, the owners of the Daily Dispatch, have had to take steps to bolster security measures around the staff concerned,” he said.
The claims by the ANC top brass come after the Dispatch recently exposed gross irregularities, factionalism, fraud, corruption and wasteful expenditure in ANC-run municipalities. These include irregularities in the spending of funds meant for memorial services for Nelson Mandela and the sex-for-jobs scandal in Bhisho.
The Dispatch also recently reported on alleged tender box tampering by Buffalo City Metro municipality manager Andile Fani.
The Saturday Dispatch exposed one of the biggest tender scandals in the province at Amathole district municipality and how a company, Siyenza Group, was awarded a tender worth R634-million to build toilets by ADM without proper supply chain management processes being followed. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
ANC accuses Dispatch of plotting Bhisho’s downfall
“We are disappointed that the ANC elected not to confront the Daily Dispatch with these allegations, which we would have directly refuted.”
It is not the first accusation directed at the Dispatch recently.
“For the past week we have been confronted with false accusations that we are spying on the premier of the province, Phumulo Masualle,” Siqoko said.
“This accusation was formally raised this week when officials from the premier’s office visited our newsroom to discuss our continuing working relationship.
“Incidentally the meeting was cordial and fruitful.”
Siqoko said the statement coincided with “consistent” information that the safety of some of the paper’s senior staff, including himself, was in danger.
“Security experts have since confirmed that these threats are credible and need to be taken seriously.
“As a result Tiso Blackstar Ltd, the owners of the Daily Dispatch, have had to take steps to bolster security measures around the staff concerned,” he said.
The claims by the ANC top brass come after the Dispatch recently exposed gross irregularities, factionalism, fraud, corruption and wasteful expenditure in ANC-run municipalities. These include irregularities in the spending of funds meant for memorial services for Nelson Mandela and the sex-for-jobs scandal in Bhisho.
The Dispatch also recently reported on alleged tender box tampering by Buffalo City Metro municipality manager Andile Fani.
The Saturday Dispatch exposed one of the biggest tender scandals in the province at Amathole district municipality and how a company, Siyenza Group, was awarded a tender worth R634-million to build toilets by ADM without proper supply chain management processes being followed. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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