Gangster State

murdered businessman’s dealings. For ease of reference, I refer to these
documents as the IgoFiles. In order to protect my sources, I cannot
divulge any information about how these documents came into my
possession. It was my ‘mini-#GuptaLeaks’ moment. Although not
nearly as large as the dataset that laid bare the Gupta family’s murky
conduct, the IgoFiles were undoubtedly a valuable find when it came to
linking Magashule to possible corruption. ‘Premier requested that you
pay full amount of R 470 000 ,’ reads a snippet of one email in the
IgoFiles. Part VII fully unpacks the dubious asbestos audit contract
and explains how Magashule may have received as much as R 10
million from the deal.
In this book I examine the undemocratic means with which
Magashule and his political allies clung to power in the Free State. I
also unpack a fresh revelation about a trip to the former Gupta estate in
Johannesburg, allegations of shady meetings with other connected
businessmen, and indications that Jacob Zuma may have scored a
‘thank-you fee’ from one of the Free State’s failed housing projects. All
of these stories should strengthen calls for a proper investigation into
Magashule’s dealings as premier.
In researching and writing this book, I relied partly on the experiences
of an extensive list of individuals who, at varying times during
Magashule’s political career, moved very close to him. I interviewed
about ten political figures who all once formed part of his inner circle.
They were able to provide me with invaluable insights into
Magashule’s conduct and habits, especially those pertaining to his
alleged state-capture ploys. Another ten or so businesspeople and other
connected types added to the story. A few politicians from opposition
parties were also of great help. Apart from the IgoFiles, I relied on