Edusolutions was awarded a contract procuring stationery and office material to the ANC's Parliament office. Former ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe signed off on the deal, the City Press reported.

The contract apparently had no actual value attached to it and it was unclear how much money Edusolutions received from it.

Goniwe told the paper the deal had been "recommended to him".

Edusolutions has come under fire for its failure to deliver textbooks to Limpopo schools, more than halfway through the school year.

The Sunday Independent reported that Limpopo education MEC Dickson Masemola could not be removed from his post by the ANC because he was "a Zuma man", according to rumours.

Masemola denied this, telling the paper: "I don't understand what they mean by saying I am a Zuma man. I am a disciplined member of the ANC working for the organisation with diligence and commitment."

Masemola has been blamed for his department's unauthorised expenditure and possible interference in the awarding of contracts.

Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale's administration has taken a resolution not to support Zuma's bid for a second term as ANC leader.

Mathale could not fire Masemola for two reasons, a provincial leader told the paper.

Firstly, Masemola no longer had executive authority over his department because it was under administration. Secondly, the party was concerned about a possible backlash from Masemola's supporters in the province.