Website call ruffles feathers

A war of words has erupted between Free State premier Ace Magashule's office and the opposition Democratic Alliance.

The DA in the province has called for an investigation into the relationship between businessman Tumi Ntsele and Magashule.

The call was sparked by the fact that Ntsele was offered a multimillion rand contract to develop a website for the provincial government.

Yesterday Magashule's spokesman Mondli Mvambi accused the DA of having a personal agenda against the premier.

Mvambi said the DA was "hellbent" on discrediting Magashule and used the media in their quest.

"The DA is playing their political opposition role and their allegations, whether real or fictitious, they take them to the media as real," Mvambi said.

"They are dragging the name of the premier in the mud and it is intolerable and very personal. It is a personal attack on the personality of the premier. The premier has said it before of people accusing him of corruption, why are they not following the right processes (instead) of going to the media?" he asked.

The DA has labelled the relationship between Magashule and Ntsele as "unhealthy".

"The premier has a right to have a relationship with whoever he wants. The DA is playing the man, not the ball," Mvambi said.

He said Magashule had appointed Ernst&Young to investigate whether the website was value for money or not.

Fathima Naidoo from Ernst&Young had not responded at the time of going to print. Ntsele's office said he would not comment. - selebim@sowetan.co.za