Alec Hogg: All hail the Free State activist who stalked Magashule since 1994

Alec Hogg shares his rational perspective on Leona Kleynhans, the activist who has been chasing Ace Magashule for many years.
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I first came across the name of Elias 'Ace' Magashule in 2012 when JSE-listed Sanyati Construction went bankrupt over delayed Free State provincial government payments. It revolved around the stalled roadworks linking Harrismith and the Northern Drakensberg, a scenic drive past Sterkfontein Dam that was subsequently impassable for some years. Insiders say losses sustained by hundreds of Sanyati investors – and hard hit local resorts – was directly linked to a crude Magashule enrichment scheme.

During a fascinating interview yesterday it was claimed that by the time of Sanyati's demise, long-time Free State premier Magashule was already very well practiced at his dark art of channelling public resources and punishing those refusing to co-operate. Leona Kleynhans (above), a DA member of the Free State legislature whose persistence is about to nail the former provincial overlord, told me she has been watching Magashule's antics for more than a quarter century.

Kleynhans is from Harrismith so lives in close proximity to the desperate situation in poverty-stricken Qwa Qwa nearby. And says she was horrified when soon after the 1994 election, Magashule appointed cronies at the former homeland's development corporation – then plundered its resources to oblivion within five years. She says the ANC kingpin's misdeeds have simply grown since then.

___STEADY_PAYWALL___

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