Testifying before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, Rockman said her first encounter with the controversial family was as early as 2010 when the Gupta brothers pitched an idea of an English daily newspaper. The commission heard how the Free State government subscribed for about 4 000 daily TNA newspapers and how Rockman was asked by former Premier Ace Magashule to meet the family to discuss the subscription prior to the province’s Exco meeting in Bethlehem in August 2011. She said the Guptas had already drafted a proposal that outlined the specific number of copies, and distribution of the copies. Although, the parties did not sign anything at that time. She explained that they had already agreed in principle that they would advertise in the newspaper. 

She told the Commission that they entered into an agreement with the family because there was a particular niche market for TNA in the Free State as there was not a daily English newspaper in the province. They deviated from procurement processes because there was no-one else who would bid for that in the Free State. 

Responding to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as to why the province needed a newspaper, Rockman said it gave the provincial government an opportunity to communicate with communities throughout the province about government programmes, including the provincial service delivery flagship programme, Operation Hlasela.

She said the provincial government's condition in agreeing to the deal was that the media company must train and empower the youth in the province.

She nonetheless, also confirmed that when she left office, she was not aware as to whether the return on the deal had materialised. The Free State Provincial Government ended the contract with TNA in March 2018.

OFM News previously reported that under Magashule’s administration, the Free State Office of the Premier spent an exorbitant amount of R79 million on this newspaper, topping all the other provinces in addition to the Free State government departments expenditure of R26 million.

During testimony by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) last year, it was revealed that the highest payments to this newspaper came from offices of premiers in eight provinces, amounting to R113 million, followed by the GCIS at R55 million, and then Provincial Treasury.

14 September 2016/Earl Coetzee

OFM News