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Mbeki allies seek critical paper Mbeki allies seek critical paper
(about 22 hours later)
Close allies of President Thabo Mbeki have bid for an influential South African media group which includes a newspaper critical of the government.Close allies of President Thabo Mbeki have bid for an influential South African media group which includes a newspaper critical of the government.
His personal adviser and a foreign ministry official are in a consortium offering R7bn (£1bn, £500m) to buy Johncom, which owns the Sunday Times.His personal adviser and a foreign ministry official are in a consortium offering R7bn (£1bn, £500m) to buy Johncom, which owns the Sunday Times.
South Africa's best selling weekly newspaper exposed the health minister's theft conviction and alcohol problems.South Africa's best selling weekly newspaper exposed the health minister's theft conviction and alcohol problems.
This prompted a call by Mr Mbeki for greater press control. But the government says they broke the law by using stolen health records.
He also urged the cancellation of government advertising with the paper. Chief foreign ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa dismissed talk that this row was the reason for the takeover move.
Chief foreign ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said suggestions that President Mbeki or the government were behind this deal was "ludicrous and laughable". He said suggestions that President Mbeki or the government were behind this deal was "ludicrous and laughable".
This is a purely private initiative funded commercially," he told Sapa news agency. "This is a purely private initiative funded commercially," he told Sapa news agency.
Credulity stretchedCredulity stretched
However, the consortium, Koni, are reported to be seeking funding from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which is wholly owned by the government.However, the consortium, Koni, are reported to be seeking funding from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which is wholly owned by the government.
An opposition spokesman said government denials stretched credulity.An opposition spokesman said government denials stretched credulity.
The health minister (right) has regularly clashed with Aids activistsThe health minister (right) has regularly clashed with Aids activists
"We are dealing with newspapers that have been a constant thorn in the flesh of the government," the Democratic Alliance's Dene Smuts told AFP news agency."We are dealing with newspapers that have been a constant thorn in the flesh of the government," the Democratic Alliance's Dene Smuts told AFP news agency.
On Monday, the front page of the free daily version of The Sunday Times read: "Keep your hands off our newspapers!".On Monday, the front page of the free daily version of The Sunday Times read: "Keep your hands off our newspapers!".
Mr Mamoepa, Mr Mbeki's political adviser, Titus Mafolo, and the former chief of state protocol, Billy Modise, are all involved in the bid by Koni.Mr Mamoepa, Mr Mbeki's political adviser, Titus Mafolo, and the former chief of state protocol, Billy Modise, are all involved in the bid by Koni.
Anton Harber, a media professor at Johannesburg's Wits University, told the Independent that it was unlikely the Koni bid would have gone ahead without Mr Mbeki's knowledge.Anton Harber, a media professor at Johannesburg's Wits University, told the Independent that it was unlikely the Koni bid would have gone ahead without Mr Mbeki's knowledge.