Johannesburg – Calls are mounting for government to investigate the awarding of a multi-million-rand tender for the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Gauteng health department.
Last week, a local newspaper reported how a R124 million tender was awarded to Royal Bhaca Projects – owned by Amabaca King Madzoikazi II Thandisizwe who is the husband of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khuseka Diko.
Information has been brought forward which states that the awarding of the R2.2 billion tender was went to the company.
Other reports also say that the Diko family has close ties with the wife of Gauteng health MEC Loyiso Masuku who is also a councillor in Johannesburg. Diko is also a member of the ANC provincial executive committee.
A number of organisations have called for a full investigation in the awarding of the contract.
“The King and the President are very high-profile offices that demand respect, so we don’t expect them to be part and parcel of anything that can be negative to the community,” said South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) Gauteng chairperson Chris Malematja.
The Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloem agrees with Sanco.
“Thorough investigation with no cover-up,” he said.
The EFF wants the matter to be probed saying the president’s spokesperson must be removed from he roffice.
Khusela Diko has defended her husband. She denied allegations of wrongdoing, and says she talked her husband out of the tender adding that he received a commitment letter that was never fulfilled.
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