The EFF on Tuesday demanded that the member of the executive council for health in Gauteng, Bandile Masuku, step down.
This was after the provincial government awarded a R125 million contract for personal protective equipment (PPE) to the husband of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokeswoman Khusela Diko and was not duly accounted for.
In a statement, EFF acting provincial chairman Itani Mukwevho said the party was displeased at how Masuku handled the awarding of the contract to Madzikane II Thandisizwe Diko’s Royal Bhaca Projects and said he has to step down pending a probe by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The Dikos are reportedly family friends of Masuku and his wife.
“Gauteng EFF demands a thorough investigation into the awarding of all PPE contracts since the beginning of the lockdown,” Mukwevho said.
“It has become clear that Covid-19 has presented an opportunity for the politically connected to dispense political patronage by awarding their friends government monies meant to fight the pandemic while disregarding proper supply gain management and inflating prices above National Treasury guidelines.”
Mukwevho said over 90 companies that were given the contracts were involved in this fraud and it seems to be linked to politically connected individuals.
“We call on the MEC (member of the executive council) to immediately vacate his office to allow for the SIU investigation into Gauteng health as well as his chief of staff,” Mukwevho said.
