EFF calls for Mantashe's head to roll

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it is "deeply concerned" about allegations that Minister Gwede Mantashe has bribed Sunday World journalists in exchange for them not to write scandalous stories about him. 

The Sunday World reported that Mantashe confessed in an interview that he paid R70 000 to journalists in an attempt to stop them from writing a scandalous story about him. 

"As the EFF we believe these allegations may be true and call on Mantashe to step down as Minister and Member of Parliament for engaging in unethical and corrupt relations with the media," said the EFF in a statement. 

"We call on Sunday World, for the sake of its own credibility, to release the evidence of Mantashe’s confession on the bribery of journalists; whether it be an audio, video or written record"

Mantashe has denied the allegations, saying he did bribe journalists and added that " there was no verification of these allegations prior to the publication of the story."

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The EFF insists: "Mantashe must step down. If he is bribing journalists to hide a sex story, we can only imagine what other corrupt activities he is involved in. A man willing to bribe journalists is capable of being bribed himself as a government official and member of the executive. He must step down with immediate effect."