Gwede Mantashe Denies Bribing Journalists To Not Write Love Triangle Story. Gwede Mantashe, the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, says he did not pay Sunday World journos money so that they don’t release an article about his s*x life.
Gwede Mantashe, the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, says he did not pay Sunday World journos money so that they don’t release an article about his s*x life. On Sunday, the Sunday World released a reply from Gwede Mantashe. The newspaper stated that the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister didn’t want to respond to them about the triangle between him, Lerato Habiba and Tito Mboweni, Finance Minister.
The newspaper, however, reported that Gwede Mantashe said that he asked two journalists not to release the story, thereby allegedly paying them R70 000. He then reportedly told the publication that they could report on the story because it was his comment, even though he didn’t want to name anyone. However, on Tuesday, the minister didn’t agree with the claims. “The statement attributed to him seems to have created an impression of him being involved in the act of bribery. Mr Mantashe is clear that none of the sort occurred. Further, attested to by the newspaper, there was no verification of these allegations prior to the publication of the story,” says the Chief of Staff in the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Moferefere Lekorotsoana.
The chief of staff in the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy states that Gwede Mantashe “believes in upholding the integrity of the media; and media freedom” both on a personal level and executive level. The South African National Editors’ Forum condemned the allegations, they also wanted the names of the people that were involved. Tiso Blackstar Group, former publisher of Sunday World, was also shocked by the story. “These allegations were never brought to the attention of the company. The press code and the company’s own editorial policy are opposed to any form of corrupt and unethical journalism. It’s dismissible offence to accept money or any form of bribe to write or not to write a story,” says Moshoeshoe Monare, the deputy managing director of the Tiso Blackstar Group.
by Alexandra Ramaite
