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Gauteng MEC Bandile Masuku Health.
- An SIU forensic investigator told the court that Masuku’s denial of knowledge of the corrupt PPE acquisition is self-serving.
- Masuku is challenging SIU’s findings, which led to his dismissal, in North Gauteng Superior Court.
- The SIU claims that this review is simply an attempt by Masuku to be reinstated, without accepting responsibility.
The denial of knowledge of the former Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku about the corrupt, illegal and irregular acquisition of EPP is selfish, argued the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) in court documents.
“Considering its constitutional and statutory duties, I respectfully hold that the fact that the applicant has denied knowledge of corrupt, illegal and improper acquisitions by and in the provincial department is simply unfounded and inadmissible interested,” said SIU’s forensic investigator Asashanduki Rabali in an affidavit.
The North Gauteng High Court, in a virtual session on Thursday, heard Masuku’s challenge to the SIU’s findings, leading to his dismissal, before a full court, comprised of Judge Roland Sutherland, Judge Thina Siwendu, and Judge Joseph Raulinga.
A preliminary report by the SIU placed Masuku at the center of the proceedings in the Gauteng health department, where the husband of the presidential spokesperson, Khusela Diko, received a bid of 125 million rand for the supply of PPE. , which found that “it did not fulfill its function in accordance with the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).”
Masuku’s legal team previously submitted to the court that the findings were not “supported by a shred of evidence.”
READ | Bandile Masuku’s legal team argues that SIU’s findings are not ‘backed by a shred of evidence’
Rabali said the MEC was responsible for exercising the executive authority and supervisory matters of the provincial department, including the emergency procurement of PPE.
The forensic investigator added that it was clear from the CFO’s version that EPP procurement reports were provided to the applicant. [Masuku] continuously and regularly.
Additionally, Rabali said the reports were handed over to the provincial command council after it made the decision to centralize the procurement of PPE within the provincial department.
“The plaintiff’s duties in this regard were reinforced by the fact that he knew that the EPP acquisition was an emergency, that it is notoriously abused and is a hotbed for corrupt and illegal acquisitions, and that his department was weakened in its supply chain. supply and its asset management capabilities to manage such a large-scale acquisition, “Rabali argued.
The forensic investigator alleged that the requested review was merely an attempt by the applicant to obtain reinstatement to the MEC office, without “accepting responsibility and accountability for acts of corrupt, illicit and undue contracting that took place under his supervision in the order R2 billion in just six months. “
“The applicant opportunistically seeks to challenge the conclusions of the SIU. He has made strident allegations against the investigators and the SIU, which are not justified,” said attorney Vincent Maleka SC, on behalf of the SIU.
The trial was reserved.
