Mac against the media wall

The president's spokesman Mac Maharaj has had time to think things through following the Mail & Guardian and Sunday Times reports alleging - yet again - he accepted bribes for tenders as transport minister all those years ago. On Tuesday, 22 November 2011, he was ready with a slightly more nuanced answer. But he still refused to answer whether or not he had lied to the Scorpions. And for now, it appears that the M&G is headed for a sticky showdown in court against Maharaj.

By Sipho Hlongwane: @comradesipho

23 Nov 2011

Blacked-out Mail & Guardian lead story, Friday 18 November 2011. Pic by .

Blacked-out Mail & Guardian lead story, Friday 18 November 2011. Pic tweeted by @GasantAbarder.

click to enlarge

What would Maharaj say to the media, after it had accused him of being a liar and corrupt cabinet minister? In the morning when, 1500km away, the South African Parliament decided it prefers to chart a dystopian future for the entire country, a fistful of journalists crowded into a small room at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria to find out.

How Maharaj would deal with the allegations from the M&G and the Sunday Times was always going to be fascinating. His interview with Justice Malala on Sunday morning 20 November has already passed into legend for the bad light in which he painted himself. The allegations from the media that Maharaj took bribes from a company that would later be implicated in arms deal corruption are about eight years old.

This latest round of media investigations and allegations aren't nearly as intense as the last, but this time something has given.

Continue reading the full story on www.dailymaverick.co.za

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