Seeds for Covid-19 corruption in Gauteng Department of Health were sown years ago already

23 March 2021

During the debate on the annual report of the Department of Health for the 2019/2020 financial year, the FF Plus accused the Gauteng ANC government of sowing the seeds for the extensive Covid-19 corruption that occurred last year during previous years.

The Covid-19 corruption stemmed from the previous two years' lack of oversight over tenders and procurements.

The Auditor-General (AG) did bring to the Department's attention that many of the tender and procurement procedures were not adhered to in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 financial years.

According to the provincial Legislature’s Committee on Health's report, oversight over tenders and procurements declined significantly in 2019/2020 already. This trend explains why there was an opportunity for large-scale fraud to take place during the Covid-19 tender processes in 2020.

The FF Plus finds it extremely alarming that the Department took no steps to improve oversight and control in spite of the AG's warnings.

The Department of Health fulfils an important role in protecting people's health and their human rights and that is why it is an absolute shame that the greatest Covid-19 corruption occurred in this very Department.

Unfortunately, one cannot expect any better from the ANC. Thus, it is imperative to strip the ANC of its power in the upcoming elections.

Issued by Anton Alberts, FF Plus national chairperson and MPL: Gauteng, 23 March 2021