Clock strikes for Mokonyane's 'Ben 10'

Is the man accused of being Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane's "Ben 10" influencing procurement processes in her department?

The man at the heart of the controversy, whose name is known to The Times, holds a senior position at one of the entities under one of the state departments.

The allegations were started by the chief whip of the EFF, Floyd Shivambu, and have forced Mokonyane to defend herself from the accusations.

A letter from the "Red Berets" contains what the minister's office calls "an implied allegation that a certain individual with a close relationship to the minister is influencing departmental programmes, procurement processes and spending; and that the minister is the owner of a certain property worth R40-million in Sandhurst".

"For public record the minister wishes to state the individual referred to is neither in the employ of the department or any of its entities," her ministry said.

The letter, published by the EFF on its website, was dated February 7. It asked the minister how many times she had visited the property in the past 12 months, what funds were used to purchase it and whether she had a personal relationship with a man who allegedly approves payments on behalf of the department.

Shivambu charged on Twitter: "Minister of Water & Sanitation has outsourced the ministry to a Ben 10, who she travelled with to Iran and New York last year."

The Water and Sanitation ministry charged that the allegations were aimed at tarnishing Mokonyane's image.

"The minister rejects the allegations as unfounded, without factual basis and refuses to be intimidated by such actions for the benefit of EFF financial and political interests and those whose financial fortunes they seek to bolster by such action," it said.

• While the EFF leadership was preparing for last night's State of the Nation Address , it indicated that its commander-in-chief, Julius Malema, had "academic obligations".

EFF chairman Dali Mpofu tweeted: "Being EFF president is no easy job: University exam on Wednesday... 'War' on Thursday evening... Another exam on Friday morning! #GoodLuckCiC."