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Gauteng Prime Minister David Makhura. Image: Rosetta Msimango
- Gauteng Prime Minister David Makhura said he was prepared to respond to the corruption allegations made against him.
- Makhura maintained that there were no allegations of wrongdoing against him personally.
- The prime minister said his name had been discredited and he wanted it to be “taken care of.”
Gauteng Prime Minister David Makhura says he is prepared to report to the ANC’s integrity committee on allegations that he played a role in the Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption scandal.
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in Gauteng had asked Makhura to face music and appear before the ANC’s provincial integrity commission on corruption allegations related to the procurement of PPE at the provincial Health Department, News24 reported.
The call came as the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is investigating corruption in the PPE tender.
An affidavit from the department’s former chief financial officer, Kabelo Lehloenya, alleged that Makhura was involved in the award of multi-million dollar EPP tenders.
Lehloenya alleged that Makhura gave suggestions on which companies should be designated to supply and deliver PPE in the province.
This has led to renewed calls for the district attorney to fire him.
Gauteng District Attorney Leader Solly Msimanga will deliver a letter to the Hawks asking them to urgently investigate the prime minister.
Corruption scandals
In a statement, the party said that the letter contained detailed information on all the PPE and Covid-19 related corruption scandals under Makhura’s supervision.
Addressing the media on Friday, Makhura said that the Gauteng government “appreciates the progress made by the SIU in its ongoing investigation into irregularities in the procurement of Covid-19 goods and services.”
“We celebrate the judgment handed down on December 10, 2020 by Judge SP Mothle in the Special Court in the matter between SIU and others.
“We have noted that in the sentence, Judge Mothle refers to the affidavit of the former financial director of the Department of Health, Ms. Kabelo Lehloenya, where he implicates the Office of the Prime Minister,” he added.
“After reading the affidavit with which it was deposited by the former CFO, we are satisfied that there are no allegations of wrongdoing against the prime minister. Since then, we have turned to the Special Court with a view to rectifying the statement of the ruling.
‘We must fight against corruption’
“I wish to reiterate that I have never given the former CFO names of companies or contractors nor have I instructed government officials to designate service providers in any state institution or government department.”
Mahkura said that he had not been sent to the local government to participate in acts of corruption.
“My name has been discredited. I want that addressed.
“We must fight against corruption. We must ensure that clean governance takes place in this province.
“Where there are complaints, there must be an investigation. And when the investigation requires a course of action, we [will] act on that course of action. “
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