Tender scandal: Masuku ordered to take temporary leave of absence

Following a PEC meeting on Wednesday 29 July, the African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng, resolved that Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku and Presidential Spokesperson Khusela Diko be referred to the provincial Integrity Committee following the tender scandal. 

Since Diko already took a leave of absence from her duties, the party ruled that Masuku also take a temporary leave of absence for the next two to four weeks while investigations continue.  

ANC Provincial Secretary Jacob Khawe, while briefing the media on the outcomes of the PEC meeting on Thursday 30 July, said Masuku’s wife Loyiso will also be subjected to the party’s Integrity Committee. 

They stand accused of dodgy dealings regarding a PPE tender. The SIU will, therefore, investigate whether they have wrongly benefitted from COVID-19 relief funds. 

MASUKU’S ASKED TO TAKE TEMPORARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Apart from being subjected to the Integrity Committee, Maskuku has also been ordered to take an immediate leave of absence from his duties. The same was dealt for City of Johannesburg MMC and Bandile’s wife, Loyiso Masuku, while investigations into the tender scandal continue. 

“We take this decision for clean governance. We take this decision as a fair process. The Integrity Committee of the ANC is a moment of self-reflection, it’s not a guillotine,” said Khawe. 

According to Khawe, the Integrity Committee has to finish its work in the next two to four weeks. 

Diko, now on leave from her presidential duties, released a joined statement with her husband King Maszikane II Diko on Wednesday 29 July. The pair proclaimed their innocence.

“Although there was no corruption in the bidding and subsequent awarding of the PPE contract to Royal Bhaca Projects, we accept that years of cronyism have created an environment of mistrust and suspicion when individuals, who are close to political office and influence, are seen to be benefiting from the State in ways that may be unethical,” it said. 

“We deeply regret the error of judgement that led Royal Bhaca to seek to do business with this Department in the first place,” the statement added. 

OUTCOMES OF THE PEC MEETING 

Khawe said the PEC received the government report and realised there’s a lot more investigation that needs to be carried out regarding the tender scandal and those implicated such as Masuku, his wife and Diko.

“Companies did not apply for PPE Tender as normal. Because of the nature of the problem, it demonstrates the government was open to manipulation,” he said. 

He said provincial government must respond to the people as to how this could have happened. He also said the premier must deliver a full report in the next four weeks. 

“They said they did nothing wrong. The PEC received a report and it was discussed. The PEC resolved that the ANC is losing trust amongst the people to deal with corruption. The leadership must know that what they do implicates the party,” added Khawe.