Watch: Personal protective equipment dumped in Centurion river
A supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) — including latex gloves and face masks — has been discovered floating in a river which passes through Irene Country Club in Centurion, Gauteng.
The grim discovery, which comes amid damning allegations of tender corruption related to the supply of PPE in the province, was made on Sunday afternoon. Acting Health MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, conducted a visit to the site on Sunday evening and confirmed that a criminal case had been opened.
The latest unearthing of PPE irregularities in Centurion adds to the province’s long list of open investigations, some led by law enforcement agencies with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) referring Gauteng leaders to the party’s Integrity Commission.
Watch: PPE dumped in Irene Country Club, Centurion
Less than a week into his new role as Health MEC, Mamabolo has been confronted by the contentious issue of PPE supplies in Gauteng. Mamabolo was appointed acting Health MEC after Bandile Masuku was placed on a special leave of absence pending an investigation into PPE irregularities in the province.
Masuku’s leave coincides with a disruptive stir-up within the ANC. Presidential Spokesperson, Khusela Diko, has also been placed on special leave, with the core issue around corruption and nepotism related to the awarding of R124 million tender to Diko’s husband.
While Masuku and the Dikos have denied any wrongdoing, an ongoing inquiry into the controversial tender process, spearheaded by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has forced the ANC to confront glaring anomalies associated with coronavirus relief efforts.
The PPE scandal coincides with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s most recent promises to root out corruption. Ramaphosa, who sanctioned a ground-breaking R500 billion coronavirus relief fund, confirmed that government had received a flurry of complaints concerning corruption within municipalities and local departments.
Calls for Gauteng Premier Makhura to step down
Gauteng has been particularly hard hit by recent PPE scandals, with the recent discovery of equipment found floating in the Irene County Club’s river raising further red flags.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura noted that Gauteng, in addition to being the coronavirus epicentre of South Africa, had earned the dishonourable title of the country’s corruption hot-spot. Makhura, who voiced his serious concerns regarding dodgy procurement processes, added that allegations of corruption had eroded public faith in government. On Masuku’s alleged involvement, Makhura said:
“I must say that I am disappointed, at this point. I am really, really disappointed to have an MEC, who has been leading from the front very well, facing allegations that I can’t ignore.”
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) has called on Makhura to resign from his seat of power, citing poor leadership amid the swelling PPE scandal. Sanco further argued that the appointment of Mamabolo — the province’s Transport MEC — showed a deeper lack of understanding.
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