Gauteng Province – MEC for Transport Jacob Mamabolo has been appointed as acting-MEC for the Department of Health in Gauteng.
This comes after Premier David Makhura placed Dr. Bandile Masuku on a 4-week leave pending investigation connected to the provincial personal protective equipment (PPE) tender anomaly claims.
It has emerged recently that Dr. Masuku is purportedly embroiled in a scandalous tender allegedly awarded irregularly to Amabhaca King, Madzikane II Thandisizwe Diko.
On the one hand, King Diko is conjugaly attached to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko who is serving leave of absence on the heels of the same controversial contract.
On the other hand, Mrs. Diko also serves on the ANC’s provincial executive committee in Gauteng where the disputed tender was availed and granted.
Over the past weekend, Sunday Independent reported on an apparent corruption-ridden contract to the tune of R125 million for PPE involving members close to the governing party: the African National Congress (ANC).
After stubborn denials about her [Mrs. Diko] legitimacy to bid for government businesses, the Dikos released an apologetic communique on social media. The concession expressed an “error of judgment”.
According to Talk Radio 702, there are about 90 contracts in Gauteng being probed by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). The reported investigations relate to the PPE funds for Covid-19 which the Sunday Times costed at R2 billion.
Talking to the media, Makhura said that the MEC for Health was doing “very well” leading the Covid-19 programmers. “I am disappointed,” Makhura emphasized. In his words, the skunk of corruption has rubbished the good work already done in the province.
A New24 report says ANC Gauteng has ‘asked Masuku and his wife, City of Johannesburg shared services MMC Loyiso Masuku to “step aside”, along with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko ….’
The Masukus have been hauled to appear before their political party’s commission in Gauteng. The (ANC’s) Integrity Commission has been given a month or so to determine whether the couple brought the movement into disrepute.