CAPE TOWN (Sapa) - The Cape Argus said on Wednesday it was "aghast" at revelations that a former political reporter took payments to write articles favourable to then-Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool.

The newspaper filled its front page with details of an affidavit by ex-staffer Ashley Smith.

In the document Smith said Rasool had used him as his "front line of attack" against rivals in the African National Congress, particularly provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha.

Rasool was ousted as head of the party in the province in 2005 by James Ngculu, and axed as premier in 2008 by the national ANC.

The Argus said Smith handed the affidavit to the National Prosecuting Authority on Tuesday along with a request for indemnity against any criminal charges.

In it, Smith said he had at the time, in addition to his Argus job, been a partner in a public relations company named Inkwenkwezi.

Although he had a one-third interest in the company, all the shares were formally held by an associate of Rasool's, Zain Orrie.

Smith said the understanding was that Inkwenkwezi would assist Rasool with media advice related to the premier's political survival in the ANC, and that in return the company would get business from the provincial government.

He said he was also paid to write news stories that would promote Rasool and thereby damage Skwatsha.

The Argus said in a front-page editorial accompanying Wednesday's article that though it began a disciplinary inquiry against Smith when the allegations were first aired in 2005, he resigned before it was completed.

"The suggestion that reporters receive monetary compensation from public funds in exchange for supporting political agendas is about as damning a charge as you can level at journalists," it said.

"Naturally we are aghast and have to acknowledge a failing on the Cape Argus's part."

It stressed that the newspaper would not knowingly be involved in the sort of journalism to which Smith had confessed.

The newspaper said Rasool had denied the allegations.

He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday afternoon.

Smith declined to comment, and there was no immediate comment from the National Prosecuting Authority.

Originally published by Politicsweb