ANC pushes for new Gauteng health MEC
Makhura told new appointment urgent
The Gauteng ANC has told premier David Makhura to replace the erstwhile health MEC Bandile Masuku with a new political head.
The party announced yesterday that Masuku and presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko had been suspended from party activities pending their disciplinary hearings in relation to the Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) scandal.
Masuku was fired early this month after a preliminary Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report into the PPE tender scandal.
Makhura at the time said he would not replace him until investigations into allegations of corruption related to PPE procurement in the health department were completed.
The SIU report found that Masuku was made aware of the irregularities in the procurement of PPE but did nothing or very little to act on it. Makhura said that the SIU recommended he takes action to determine whetherMasuku is suitable to continue holding the position of health MEC. Thiswas after Royal Bhaca, a company owned by Diko ’ s husband AmaBhaca chief Thandiziwe Diko, was awarded a multimillion-rand Covid19 PPE tender by the department. The Masukus and the Dikos are close family friends.
Though the provincial executive committee (PEC) unanimously accepted and welcomed the decision to fire Masuku, it was however against Makhura ’ s stance not to replace him and said the department cannot go on without an MEC during a Covid-19 pandemic that has the potential to resurge.
The department is currently without an MEC, head of department (HOD), chief financial officer (CFO) and deputy director-general (DDG) after they were suspended based on the preliminary findings of the SIU. These positions are being filled on an acting basis.
“Strengthening the department must be one of the urgent priorities of the premier and that of the executive council, ” Gauteng provincial treasurer Parks Tau said.
“This includes the urgent appointment of the new MEC and HOD so that they can lead the battle against Covid-19 and focus on improving the quality of public health in Gauteng. ”
The filling of the vacancies is expected to be actioned as soon as possible, with Makhura having called a meeting to discuss possible names of replacements.
“I can confirm that onMonday the premier has requested to consult with [ANC] office bearers and amongst the discussions I think it will be on the process to fill those vacancies. So we will indeed deal with those aspects,” ANC Gauteng deputy chairperson Panyaza Lesufi said.
Masuku ’ s wife and MMC at the City of Johannesburg Loyiso Masuku is expected to return to work after the PEC decided therewas no proof of her involvement in the alleged corruption at the department.
“The PEC decided that comrade Bandile Masuku and comrade Khusela Diko should be referred to the provincial disciplinary committee of the ANC, ” Tau said.
“In order to protect the integrity of the ANC and of the affected comrades, the PEC further decided that [they] should step aside from organisational activities pending the finalisation of the disciplinary process.
“Allegations against Loyiso Masuku in relation to her involvement in this regard could not be substantiated and the PEC decided she should resume her duties.”