The Mpumalanga department of human settlements wanted to buy a farm in Emalahleni in 2010 but "did not have the funds", only to buy it for R37.5m the following year.
The mayor of eMakhazeni (Belfast) in Mpumalanga, Thomas Ngwenya, has denied that his office interfered and imposed service providers to be hired by mining companies.
Individuals set on extortion under the guise of community and business forums delay essential government projects in Mpumalanga and scare off private investors if their lofty demands are not met.