The editor of City Press, Vusi Mona, has denied any wrongdoing after reports that he worked for firms hired to improve the image of the Mpumalanga provincial government.

City press reported yesterday that Mona had offered to stand down as editor while an investigation into a possible conflict of interest was conducted.

Mona is reported to have worked for Rainbow Communications and Rainbow Kwanda Communications.

Mona said that according to a story in The Star he was a director in one of three companies trading as Rainbow Communications and rainbow Kwanda Communications".

The story did not say which of the three firms Mona was a director of.

Mona said this omission was a fatal flaw in the story, but did not explain why.

Mona said: "I shall not go into the details about my business activities other than to say I am not part of any consortium doing work for the Mpumalanga government".

Mona said he had shown correspondence to The Star expressly stating he was not a shareholder or director of the companies concerned but "The Star chose to ignore all this because they were rushing for deadlines".

Mona said he had taken legal advice in regard to The Star's story.

He said he keenly awaited the outcome of the investigation he had asked his employers to conduct, and emphasised that he had not been suspended, but had stepped aside voluntarily until the investigation was complete.

Media24, the publishers of City Press, confirmed that Mona had proposed an investigation and offered to co-operate fully with that investigation.

The integrity of their editors was of paramount concern to them, and an independent law firm had been appointed to investigate.

Wally Mbhele, the deputy editor of City Press, was acting as editor while the investigation took place. – Sapa.