Photographer: Waldo Swiegers / Bloomberg
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers / Bloomberg
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Investigations by South African authorities into the award of questionable contracts worth 13.3 billion ($ 889 million) to provide equipment and services needed to tackle the coronavirus found that a number of officials have and procedures blatantly ignored.
About a quarter of the contracts have been investigated and 38 cases have been referred to the national prosecutor for criminal prosecution, while disciplinary action has been recommended against 25 officials, said Andy Mothibi, the head of the country’s special investigation unit. About Rand 260 million in cash and assets had been identified as recoverable from suppliers, he said.
“My observation is that the blatant and willful disdain is supported by an insatiable pursuit of self-enrichment,” Mothibi told reporters Friday. “That cannot go unpunished.”
The unit found that some suppliers overcharged for services and were paid without proof of delivery, while some officials had allegedly signed contracts with their friends.
Read More: South Africa Investigates Questionable $ 292 Million Virus Contracts
South Africa has confirmed 1.47 million coronavirus infections so far, most of them in Africa. Between April and November, the government made contacts worth R30.7 billion to businesses to provide personal protective equipment and other equipment and services to respond to the pandemic.
The tendering scandal is especially embarrassing for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has pledged to fight the graft that became endemic during the nine-year rule of his predecessor Jacob Zuma. Khusela Diko, Ramaphosa’s spokeswoman, and Bandile Masuku, the head of health in central Gauteng province, are among those who have reportedly benefited from the supply contacts and forced to leave their posts.
Read more: Spokeswoman for South African president faces disciplinary procedure
“It is discouraging to see state officials in all areas of government, who have been called upon to serve the people of South Africa, are involved in illegal and illegal activities,” Mothibi said. “The SIU will continue to prosecute all those officials who have resigned in light of the investigations or against disciplinary action by freezing their pensions and filing civil lawsuits to recover the stolen funds from the state.”