Mkhwebane sees ‘rapid surge’ in Covid complaints

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s office says over the past four months it has seen a rapid surge in the number of complaints received in relation to Covid-19 response initiatives.

These include complaints relating to the R350 social relief of distress grant programme, irregularities in the procurement of personal protective equipment and the awarding of a quarantine camp tender.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mkhwebane’s office said about 450 people had approached the public protector to complain about what they deemed unreasonable grounds for declining applications for the R350 special grant announced in April.

The office said “the complainants either allege that they were not provided with reasons as to why their applications were unsuccessful, or that the applications were declined on the basis that the applicants were found to be recipients of some form of income or that they qualified for [the Unemployment Insurance Fund], which they disputed”.

In April, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a R500 billion social and economic support package to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The stimulus package amounts to about 10% of the country’s gross domestic product. A total of R130 billion of the package would be supported by reprioritising funds from SA’s existing budget, it was reported earlier.

The office is also investigating alleged tender irregularities in the awarding of a quarantine camp tender in Mpumalanga.

This comes after allegations that the Zithabeseni facility, which was awarded the contract, is dilapidated and a health hazard for people under quarantine at the premises.

“The complainant further alleged that there has been no provision for necessities such as food and toilet paper at the facility.”

In KwaZulu-Natal, Mkhwebane’s office is investigating allegations of irregularities in the procurement of personal protective equipment by the provincial department of education following allegations that the department procured the personal protective equipment at inflated prices. – News24 Wire