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By Baldwin Ndaba 
10h ago
Pretoria – Gauteng Prime Minister David Makhura said the fate of Health MEC’s Dr. Bandile Masuku would be finalized this weekend.
This follows concerns about Masuku’s extended special license that has been in place since July 30 after allegations surfaced that he facilitated multi-million dollar PPE tenders to his family friends.
He was alleged to have played a key role in awarding a R 125 million PPE tender to Royal Bhaca Projects, a company 100% owned by Thandisizwe Diko, the husband of Khusela Diko, spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Masukus and Dikos are friends of the family. Masuku’s wife, Loyiso, is also a business partner of Thandisizwe. Both families have denied the allegations.
Makhura initially promised that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) would conclude its investigations within six weeks, but that has been exceeded.
However, he said yesterday that he expected a final report from the SIU on Masuku before the end of this week. He was happy with the progress of the investigation. “I am satisfied that it will help me determine what kind of action to take.”
“SIU will give me a report before the end of the week. I want to know if any of our colleagues or officials benefited from the PPE tenders. We will ensure that the necessary measures are taken. I want to hold everyone around us accountable.
“All those involved in the corruption and bad practices of Covid-19, whether they are public officials, public servants or businessmen, must be brought to justice.
“We want to know who has scammed the government,” Makhura said.
It also revealed that all municipalities in Gauteng were being investigated by the SIU for any irregularities in the awarding of PPE tenders.
After a presentation, he commented that more than 80 million rand had been issued in PPE tenders in the city of Joburg under the leadership of Geoff Makhubo, the mayor of the ANC.
Makhura also said that the SIU would refer more companies to the Special Court for the assets freeze. The prime minister said the number of companies found to have done business irregularly had risen from 40 to 61.
“Not all companies were found to have done business incorrectly. The SIU has removed some of them. As a result of the report, I have allowed those companies to continue doing business with the provincial government, including in the acquisition of PPE, ”Makhura said.
Their revelations came as Thandisizwe Diko and others are expected to challenge a provisional order on Tuesday that froze their bank accounts at the Special Court of Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
Makhura also announced the appointment of Gauteng Health COO Lesiba Malotana as interim director following the suspension of Dr. Mkhululi Lukhele on Wednesday.
Makhura said that Lukhele had not personally committed acts of corruption, but that, as an accountant, he had not acted against malpractice.
Makhura also said that another Gauteng health official, Andile Gwabeni, deputy director general for human resources, had been linked by the SIU to irregularities in the procurement of PPE.
Gwabeni referred all inquiries to the health department.
Political Bureau
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