Central SA
Government funds not used, Ntombela says after previous controversy─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 16:42 Thu, 18 Aug 2022
No money from the Free State provincial government’s budget was spent to renovate the house that was gifted to the Ntsaku siblings on Thursday.
This is according to the Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, who handed over the renovated house alongside the MEC of Human Settlements, Mxolisi Dukwana.
When Lerato Ntsaku and her two brothers were gifted a new house at Hillside in Bloemfontein in April this year, there were allegations that the ANC left the impression that they have used their funds to purchase the house for Lerato Ntsaku and her family, even though the provincial government’s funds were used.
Ntombela says that no money was spent from the provincial government’s budget to renovate the house that was gifted today.
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“The house was renovated by a Good Samaritan, Baba Radebe. We (the provincial government) had no role in financing [the renovation] of this house,” she adds.
Speaking to Radebe, he says he and the company he is affiliated with, Nolwandle Trading, are always helping out where they can and when he heard about this family, they decided to help as there were still funds left in their budget. He adds that this is to help young adults who are addicted to drugs, because he believes now that the house is in a good condition, the two brothers - Xolani and Sibusiso Ntsaku - will focus on positive things.
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Xolani and Sibusiso were admitted to the Charlotte Maxeke Treatment Centre in Botshabelo in April. The MEC for Social Development, Mamiki Qabathe, who was present at the handover, explains that they aim to decrease the number of people who are addicted to substances at the centre.
The allegations surrounding the house that was bought for Lerato, began after Ntombela handed over the house during the launch of the ANC Letsema Campaign, alongside the ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The DA in the province is of the view that the house bought for Lerato was bought with the Free State Provincial Government's funds and passed off to the public as if the ANC bought it. In reply to these allegations, Ntombela says she uses state funds according to the mandate of the government.
