Lesufi decries tainted reputation

GAUTENG Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said yesterday his reputation has been damaged because of claims that he had held a secret tender meeting.

City Press reported on April 4 that Lesufi had been recorded at a meeting in Tshwane, appearing to promise to fix certain people’s tender issues.

The newspaper has since retracted the story and issued an apology to Lesufi.

“City Press would like to apologise to MEC Panyaza Lesufi. City Press retracts the allegation that the meeting was … a clandestine meeting,” it said.

Lesufi had explained that “there was no ‘secret meeting’ and that the MEC was invited by Sanco, as part of a community meeting. His office said the Soshanguve community had grown concerned, after a school had gone months without electricity because of a tender dispute. “At the community meeting … the MEC explained how contracts were advertised and adjudicated in government in general.”

Yesterday, Lesufi said his reputation had been damaged by the claims. “The damage is done. To those who insulted and labelled me, I forgive you. To those who believed in my innocence, I remain deeply indebted to you.”

Lesufi had also faced questions, after it was revealed his department had spent over R400 million on deep cleaning schools last year. At the time, the MEC said he was shocked by such a large expenditure.

He said he awaits the Special Investigations Unit’s probe and cautioned against “casting aspersions” that he was involved.