North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa has dismissed as ludicrous, mischievous and cheap political ploy allegations of impropriety relating to the sale of land in unit six Mmabatho that belonged to North West Housing Corporation during his tenure as MEC for Developmental Local Government and Housing.
The articles were published on page 10 of City Press of Sunday 26 September 2010 and pages one and three of Mafikeng Mail of 24 September 2010 with the headlines "MEC lands in hot water" and "Yawa in land sale controversy" respectively.
While Mafikeng Mail attempted to contextualise the story mentioning that MEC Yawa never directly involved in the transaction, City Press chose to quote selectively from the department's response and created an impression that the sale was carried out directly by the MEC in the department.
In its deceptive article, City Press omitted to mention the following key points quoted hereunder mentioned in the department's media statement emailed to its journalist, Mr Gershwin Chuenyane on Thursday, 23 September and response to follow-up questions emailed to him on Friday, 24 September 2010:
- "MEC Yawa was never involved in the sale of the property in question or any property of the NWHC. The NWHC as a statutory body is empowered through its act, the board of directors and management to sell properties according to their own approved disposal policies. The MEC's participation in the process was during the signing of transfer papers through the delegation of authority given by the Premier. The MEC for Local Government and housing, a position then occupied by Mr Yawa, signed the transfer papers after the sale was concluded by the NWHC and verified by the head of department. This is a normal practice still in use today.
- The media statement issued in response to your enquiry focused only on the role played by MEC Yawa. As indicated, all administrative processes related to the sale were handled at a different level, i.e. North West Housing Corporation which is a public entity operating outside the department.
- Your follow-up questions require administrative information which can only be provided by the NWHC through its chief executive officer or any other authorised representative since the file for the said transaction is with the NWHC. We cannot comment on the response given by the current MEC for Human Settlement since we are not privy to what informed her response(s).
- MEC Yawa never interacted with transferring attorneys nor was he made aware of any objection to the transfer".
In the absence of a logical explanation as to why City Press was not interested in the getting the version of NWHC as the seller in the transaction and its omission of the above key points, MEC Yawa suspects that this was done in the interest of sensationalism and is part of a ploy to tarnish his impeccable record of service, consistency and public image.
Though the article publicized by City Press is inconclusive as to whether investigations into the alleged sale of the property are being pursued, its catchy caption strongly suggest that the journalist is aware of the temperature of the water into which it is desired MEC Yawa should be put into.
MEC Yawa is confident that those choreographing the web of deceit against him will fail in their endeavour to discredit him and would welcome any investigation to clear his name.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
