Tiyani Rikhotso, spokesman for Communications Minister Nyanda: Justice Malala's column "Why ANC hates a free press" (August 16) obfuscates facts around Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda in a deliberate manner which cannot go unchallenged.

Malala alleges that "evidence mounts that all is not right with the business dealings of [Nyanda]." but fails to add relevant evidence to substantiate and justify his gratuitous claim.

Instead he butchers the Public Protector's report to try and sustain his libellous accusations against Nyanda.

It is astounding that after having read the report (one can only assume that a commentator like Malala would bother to read avidly on subjects he comments on) he understood it to mean that the public protector wants an investigation into what she had already investigated and made findings on.

Malala, like all journalists who have decided that for whatever reason they despise Nyanda, did not like the fact that the Public Protector found no evidence of wrongdoing against him.

The Public Protector had no choice but to make that finding because there was no wrongdoing on the part of Nyanda with regard the contract in question or any other contract entered into by any of the companies he has been associated with.

Malala further asserts that Nyanda wants a media tribunal. It would be interesting to see Malala adduce the evidence to back this claim.

What Nyanda has pointed out is that the system under which journalists operate is broken and needs fixing, and that senior editors could have, and should have, fixed the situation themselves.

Malala further accuses Nyanda of "buying hugely expensive cars". This is another example of Malala's malice.

Nyanda has explained many times that the cars were bought by the department, and not by him.

He has explained that after the cars were purchased he negotiated with BMW SA to have the cars returned at no extra cost to the taxpayers.

Malala also accuses Nyanda of sleeping in five-star hotels but fails to acknowledge that as minister, he does not book himself into hotels.

If he did, he would, like those whose responsibility it is to do so, make sure that the accommodation he chooses is in accordance with the ministerial handbook's terms and conditions.

Nyanda has said that he is a proponent of media freedom as a former freedom fighter and journalist.

Malala did not allow this fact to get in the way of his "good" opinion piece.