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Gauteng MEC for Health Dr. Bandile Masuku.
Sharon Seretlo, Gallo Images via Getty Images
- The district attorney says a new MEC needs to be appointed to fix the “rot” at the Gauteng Health Department.
- Meanwhile, the IFP says it welcomes the action taken against Masuku and that the decision shows that the administration is serious about eradicating corruption in the province.
- Prime Minister David Makhura announced on Friday that he had relieved Masuku of his responsibilities.
Gauteng Prime Minister David Makhura should rule out any reinstatement of the Health MEC, Bandile Masuku, and appoint a new one to fix the “deep rot” in the department, says the provincial prosecutor.
The party said this on Friday after Makhura announced that he had decided discharge Masuku from his responsibilities, based on the conclusions of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of a preliminary report that failed, “in the performance of its function in compliance with the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Law (PFMA).”
In a statement, DA MPL Jack Bloom said that the contravention of the Constitution and the PFMA was a serious matter, and that he was astonished that Makhura was willing to overlook Masuku’s “political failure”.
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Masuku and his wife Loyiso, who is also a MMC in the city of Johannesburg, were put on leave following reports of personal protective equipment (PPE) tendering corruption in the province.
READ | Masuku defends himself and asks lawyers to challenge the SIU report
Presidential spokeswoman Khusela Diko, whose husband, Madzikane Thandisiwe II, had won a 125 million rand tender to supply PPE to the department, was also suspended.
“I am amazed that Makhura is willing to overlook Masuku’s political failure, as the SIU confirms the obvious fact that it was unable to prevent the massive corruption that occurred.
“Makhura himself pointed out that senior officials were being disciplined or resigned because they did not take steps to prevent corruption. This surely applies to the political boss as well,” Bloom said.
Added:
“It appears that Makhura wishes to rescue a friend and political ally rather than impose high standards of accountability. This undermines the fight against future corruption. The prime minister should rule out any reinstatement of Masuku as a Health MEC and appoint a new MEC who can fix deep rot in this apartment. “
The FF Plus has also welcomed Masuku’s dismissal as a health MEC, adding that it was nevertheless concerned that Makhura would not fill the position until he had received the final report from SIU.
The party said that the vacant position could have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the department, mainly in the context of the Covid-19 lockdown period.
“The FF Plus wants to see Masuku’s personal bank accounts as [well as] that of his wife, Loyiso Lugayeni-Masuku, a member of the Mayor’s Group Corporate and Shared Services Committee at the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, is also being investigated as they are both implicated in the fraud.
Report
“The FF Plus wants to encourage the SIU to publish its final report as soon as possible,” he said.
The IFP described Makhura’s decision to remove Masuku as “audacious”, saying it was laudable and appropriate, indicating that the current administration was serious about its commitment to eradicate corruption and mismanagement in the province.
“The IFP also welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to recover stolen funds from all Covid-19 tenders in all Gauteng government departments. In this regard, the IFP calls for all SIU reporting to be made. public, in the interest of public transparency, “said IFP Gauteng President Bonginkosi Dhlamini.
The IFP has also urged the acting MEC of Health, Jacob Mamabolo, to ensure that funds in the department are used legally and sparingly for their intended purposes.
READ ALSO | Masuku Strikes Back: MEC Challenges Some of ANC Integrity Commission’s Damn Findings
He added that the officials who remained in the department must prove the party wrong and make sure there is no more corruption under their supervision.
“The IFP echoes the requests for awareness about Covid-19 and reiterates its call that no stone be left unturned in this investigation.”
News24 previously reported that Masuku has instructed his lawyers to apply. question the findings of the SIU report.
In a statement, the former MEC said: “The SIU report makes incorrect and non-factual findings about my role as Executive Authority. It is unclear if the report is final, and to this end I wrote to the prime minister to explain, that In fact, and in accordance with the law, I will exercise my rights to review the conclusions in a court of law to annul them. ”
