BLF opens criminal case against Minister Mantashe
Black First Land First (BLF) has laid criminal charges of corruption and bribery against Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Thursday.
This follows a report in the Sunday World suggesting Mantashe confessed during an interview that he paid R70 000 to journalists to stop them from writing a scandalous article about his private life.
Mantashe has since denied paying any bribes to journalists.
READ: ANC 'heartened' by Mantashe's bribery explanation
However, BLF President, Andile Mngxitama, says Mantashe's actions need to be investigated by police as allegations suggest illicit conduct by a public official.
"We don't know of any criminal who admits to their criminal conduct. This denial by Mantashe must be seen as the usual behaviour by the criminal"
"We call on the police and the investigators to subpoena the editors of Sunday World and to get that confession," adds Mngxitama.
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The SA National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has since written to minister Mantashe, asking to release the names of the journalists.
SANEF also added that it would closely follow the investigation by Sunday World.
The newspaper reported last week end that Manthase admitted to paying the bribe to prevent the publication of his affair with a student.