R2K statement on alleged Covid-19 tender corruption in Gauteng
3 August 2020
Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality. It constitutes dishonest and fraudulent conduct by those in power.
R2K is deeply concerned and abhorred by the numerous reports that allege corruption in the tender scandal involving the Gauteng Health Department. The information available at this stage indicates that, like so many other examples across the country, a sizeable tender for personal protective equipment (PPE) was compromised due to it being channelled to connected political friends and family members, in this case involving Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku, his wife and her friend’s husband, King Madzikane II ThandisizweDiko.
We commend the announcement by the Gauteng Provincial Government that those who are implicated have been asked to step aside from their positions while the matter is being investigated. However, we are concerned that as has been the case with many other investigations into corruption conducted by the ANC as well as law enforcement agencies, this one will also be compromised by political considerations. We call on those public institutions tasked with both investigating and prosecuting corruption to engage their work in this and all other cases, without fear or favour and in service to the people of South Africa.
We are seriously concerned that the so-called ‘Thuma Mina’ era is rapidly turning out to be little different from the corruption-riddled Zuma era where the public purse is used to enrich connected elites, fight factional battles within the ANC and to deprive ordinary citizens of the goods and services that are rightfully theirs.