Ministers Fikile Mbalula and Pravin Gordhan dismiss fake news peddled by Independent News Media

• Published date: 27 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

The Ministries of Transport and Public Enterprises wish to dismiss the falsehoods and fake news peddled by the owners, editors and 'journalists' of the Independent Newspapers group, who are determined to advance anti-democratic political objectives in and outside of Government, by regularly misleading the public with disinformation.

For the past three days, various titles of the Independent group have published a series of patently false front-page stories regarding Ministers Fikile Mbalula and Pravin Gordhan.

With dishonest speculation and malicious conjecture these headlines - 'Fikile Mbalula, Pravin Gordhan allegedly fell out over R17 billion Sanral contracts' and 'Fikile Mbalula allegedly accuses Pravin Gordhan of trying to cause rift…' - make accusations, with no factual basis, that Minister Gordhan has improper, corrupt relationships with service providers of the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), that 'Gordhan interfered' in SANRAL tenders to benefit a private company and that there is disunity and divisions in Cabinet.

These events, which according to the group's newspapers, are based on the mythical accounts of anonymous 'Sanral and government sources', apparently occurred at a Cabinet meeting on 18 May 2021, where, the public is told, the two Ministers 'fell out' about SANRAL contracts.

This is patently false: First, Minister Gordhan did not attend the Cabinet meeting because of other responsibilities. Second, Minister Gordhan has no business or personal interest in, or with any company that does business with SANRAL. Third, he has no authority at all over SANRAL or its procurement processes - the entity reports to Minister Mbalula.

This joint statement demonstrates clearly that there is mutual respect and collegiality between the two Ministers as cabinet colleagues. Both serve in Cabinet at the pleasure of the President, and both are unequivocally committed to carrying out their mandated duties, with professionalism and in the interest of the country.

Both Ministers are seeking legal advice on how to protect their rights and how to take action against a persistent, malicious, disinformation campaign conducted by Independent Media. It is important for the public to be reminded that Independent Media...