Gangster State

More than a few sources in the Free State’s political set-up referred to
Magashule as ‘Mr Ten Percent’ for allegedly demanding a 10 per cent
cut from each government contract in the province. During his nine-
year run as premier, the Free State’s cumulative annual expenditure
totalled over R 200 billion. While it is unlikely that ‘Mr Ten Percent’
skimmed off R 20 billion, considering what I uncovered while writing
this book I do believe substantial amounts of money ended up in his
broader capture network. This includes his family, friends, former
business associates and political allies.
Magashule had been extremely careful in his alleged dealings with
contractors and other businesspeople, some of his former associates
told me. Kickbacks due to him from government contracts would be
paid in cash, they all alleged, ensuring that any financial links to dodgy
contractors were kept to a minimum. Furthermore, Magashule
apparently often used trusted security guards, drivers and other aides
to do his dirty work. He also avoided electronic communication and
preferred to discuss ‘funny money’ and related matters in person. Some
of my sources feared that if the Hawks and other law-enforcement
bodies were to one day wake from their Zuma-induced slumber, they
would have a difficult time finding any conclusive evidence of
Magashule’s involvement in corrupt government deals.
But no one can erase their entire past. In April 2018 , while I was still
working at News 24 , I looked into a R 255 -million ‘asbestos audit’
contract awarded by the Free State’s Department of Human
Settlements. I linked the contract to Igo Mpambani, a high-flying
tender mogul who had been gunned down in Sandton in 2017.^2 I
stayed on Mpambani’s trail and eventually got hold of a bulky stack of
emails, bank records and related material that detailed some of the