/ 19 April 1999

FAX CLAIMS PROBED

NORTHERN Province Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi’s office is being probed for allegedly abusing government officials and equipment for party political purposes. Provincial director general Bennedicta Manching Monama confirmed on Friday that she is probing the irregular use of government staff, facsimile machines and computers in Ramatlhodi’s office to distribute African National Congress speeches to the media. Ramatlhodi’s spokesman Kenny Mathivha admitted this week that he used government computers to write the speech and government fax machines and telephone lines to distribute the material. He insisted, however, that Ramatlhodi is entitled to use government resources for party political purposes because he at all times serves as both provincial premier and ANC chairman.