Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu has instructed her lawyers to sue the CEOs of Amatola Water Board and Lepelle Northern Water Board and other individuals involved in defamatory comments made against her.

The CEOs alleged that a close adviser of Sisulu’s had tried to persuade the leaders of Amatola Water and Lepelle to manipulate drought relief tenders to favour a specific company.

The Amatola and Lepelle water boards had, prior to this, been placed under administration and were undergoing forensic investigation.

Sisulu said the allegations made against her and those in her department were ridiculous.

““The allegations made are such gross and ridiculous fabrications that it can only come from very desperate people. They know that none of what they allege is true and their only intention is to defame. We expect persons who are employed by the State to act professionally,” said a statement from the department.

Sisulu put forth that audits and forensic investigations were a normal part of good governance and questioned why these investigations should drive the CEOs to such allegations.

“The fact that these investigations should drive them to such allegations begs the question what are they afraid of,” she said.

Sisulu explained that State resources would not be used to pay for their legal troubles.

The department went on explain that these attacks on the Minister and the officials of the department were merely an outrageous attempt to sidetrack the investigation into their conduct.