Ms Jane Sithole, provincial leader of the DA, demanded a progress report on Covid-19 corruption from the Premier in Mpumalanga.
According to a press release on 13 January, the DA will once again place sustained pressure on Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, citing her statement of 20 August last year for a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to be appointed.
Ms Sithole said an investigative report into possible corruption of Covid-19 funds for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has not come to light.
“The DA submitted a letter to the office of the Premier on 25 August, detailing information contained in the Provincial Procurement Report, which showed exactly how the funds meant to contain the spread of Covid-19, became a breeding ground for corruption,” Ms Sithole added.
“The DA further asked the Premier to table the final SIU report in the Provincial Legislature.”
According to the press release of the Provincial Procurement Disclosure Report for the first quarter of 2020/2021 was released by the provincial treasury last year.
According to the report, the buying of surgical masks, sanitisers, food parcels and thermometers varied significantly across all government departments.
Ms Sithole also said the Department of Health bought 7 000 branded umbrellas for R805 450, 7 000 branded backpacks for R1 082 725 and cell phone tablets at Vodacom for R1 714 512.
“It is questionable how these items help to contain the spread of Covid-19.”
