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Mr Arnold Malotana, the acting head of the Gauteng Health Department, was a member of the controversial committee which procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Covid-19 with contracts that are being investigated for corruption.

This was revealed yesterday by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in an oral reply to my questions at a virtual sitting of the Gauteng Legislature.

This committee had ten members and was headed by Ms Kabelo Lehloenya, who was the Chief Financial Officer and is a chief suspect in the corruption. Lehloenya has left the department after a damning report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

According to Mokgethi, all investigations in this matter were handled by the Premier’s Office and her department was asked for a charge sheet against Ms Thandi Pino, the suspended Chief Director of Supply Chain Management.

The charges against Ms Pino include involvement with the appointment of Royal Bhaca and Ledla Structural Development, which are both companies mired in allegations of corruption and massive over-charging for PPE.

I am concerned that no disciplinary action has been taken against 8 of the 10 members of the PPE procurement committee, who are all in senior positions in the department.

The big question is why Premier David Makhura appointed Mr Malotana as acting head of department despite his involvement in this procurement committee. Surely he and the other members of this committee should face disciplinary action for failing to prevent the procurement debacle? This was the reason why former Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku was dismissed, and this standard should apply to officials as well.

Instead of being disciplined, Malotana was promoted by the Premier!

Makhura’s failure to investigate the role of all members of the PPE procurement committee is another indication that he is unfit to govern.

Issued by The DA