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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State notes the contents of the report by the Special Investigating unit (SIU) into Covid-19 corruption.

The report contains some issues relating to the Free State that are worth noting that include the following:

Many instances relating to procurement were not found to be illegal, including the appointment of Motheko Projects (Pty) Ltd belonging to the son of former Premier Ace Magashule, Tshepiso Magashule, to supply surgical masks to the value of R1 092 500,00 and soap to the value of R1 200 000,00. This also applies to the appointment of Marvel Deeds (Pty) Ltd, belonging to another son, Thato Magashule, for R427 221, 00 worth of sanitizer. Although the processes for their appointment were found to be legal, we regard the involvement of close family members of senior politicians in tenders unethical.

27 PPE suppliers to the Provincial Government have been recommended for blacklisting amid allegations of fraud. A prominent supplier of goods and services to the Provincial Government for many years that included Macufe in the past, C-Squared belonging to Mr Moseme, has also been named in possible fraud regarding these contracts alongside a former CFO of Provincial Treasury.

The most revealing aspect of the investigation involves the former HOD of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, Mr Mokhesi, regarding allegations of PPE fraud. Mokhesi is also an accused, alongside Ace Magashule and Olly Mhlamleli, in the controversial Asbestos Contracts that are currently before the criminal courts.

The DA will be asking questions in the Free State Legislature regarding actions that the SIU have indicated are required by the Provincial Government and request progress reports on the criminal investigations.

Issued by Leader of the opposition in the Free State, Dr Roy Jankielsohn