Makhura ‘in Gupta pocket’

Gauteng Premier David Makhura, pictured, has revealed that his office cumulatively had spent over R5.1 million on Gupta-owned media, in response to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the provincial legislature.

In the past six years, Makhura’s office has spent R4.7 million on advertising in The New Age newspaper, and has spent more than R460 000 between May 2015, to August 2016.

Last week, the controversial family’s company, Oakbay Investments, announced that it had sold its media operations to former government spokesperson Mzwanele “Jimmy” Manyi.

Manyi’s company, Lodidox, reportedly bought 24-hour news channel ANN7 for R300 million and The New Age for R150 million in a deal that was vendor financed.

DA Gauteng leader John Moodey said yesterday that while the ANC in Gauteng would like to distance themselves from the national ANC and the Guptas, it continued to fund their propaganda newspaper and channels.

“The Office of the Premier’s entire advertising budget is well over R127 million for the past seven years,” he said.

Moodey added that instead of spending millions on unnecessary advertising of projects and programmes, which are freely available, Makhura chooses to prop up his public image.

“It is a shame that the premier needs to spend millions on vanity projects when action could speak louder than a couple of A5 print pieces and billboards.

“The DA in Gauteng will continue to monitor expenditure trends with regards to advertising and the ANC Gauteng’s close links with Gupta media.

“It is our hope that many more South Africans will open their eyes and truly see the ANC for what it is: a failed organisation, under threat.

“There is no difference between the ANC in Gauteng and the national ANC. They are working together to protect President Jacob Zuma and his corrupt cronies, the Guptas,” Moodey said.

Speaking at the weekend, Manyi dismissed the media house’s reputation as purveyors of pro-Zuma propaganda, saying that is a narrative peddled by “mainstream media”.

Manyi then added that his new media empire would be a voice for “government stories that other publications have refused to cover”.