Tiso probes editor’s ‘spy fund payout’

Tiso Blackstar has placed senior journalist Ranjeni Munusamy on special leave after allegations that she received R143 621.70 from a secret slush fund allegedly used by state security crime intelligence officers.

Munusamy said in a statement: “I deny the allegations made against me at the Zondo commission. They are baseless. I am working with my lawyers to draft a response for the commission.”

Hawks officer Colonel Kobus Roelofse made the allegation yesterday at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. He said the alleged payments to Munusamy were discovered while corruption claims relating to crime intelligence and Centurion company Atlantis Motors were being investigated. The payment was allegedly made towards the end of July 2008, to pay off a vehicle registered in Munusamy’s name.

“We were able to uncover an amount of R143 621.70. It was paid from Atlantis Motors business account to Wesbank vehicle finance account in the settlement agreement of the vehicle in the name of Ms Ranjeni Munusamy. As far as I know, she is a journalist,” Roelofse said.

Inquiry chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo asked for confirmation of Munusamy’s first name, which was incorrectly spelt as “Ravanjeni” on an affidavit Roelofse submitted to the commission, saying the matter would be returned to due to the error.

Tiso Blackstar Group said that Munusamy, currently an associate editor at the company, would be placed on leave pending an investigation.

“We have granted her special leave considering the gravity of these allegations.

“The editor of the Sunday Times, Bongani Siqoko, commenced with internal investigations on Wednesday as soon as the commission notified Munusamy of these allegations.

“Munusamy was not engaged by Tiso Blackstar Group or any of its titles or companies during the period covered by these allegations, and the companion was unaware of any investigation involving Munusamy at the time she was engaged as an independent contractor.”