The Democratic Alliance (DA) reiterates its call on the Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, to support our proposal for the creation of a Special Inspector-General in the National Treasury to prevent and probe corruption related to Covid-19 relief, recovery and stimulus funding.
The DA’s proposal on the Special Inspector-General can be seen here.
We have already witnessed dubious expenditure and questions around relief aid since the start of the lockdown period:
- The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) forked out a whopping R37 million for repairs to the Beitbridge Border Fence. Questions still remain about the procurement process as well as the quality of the fence after it was vandalized days after completion.
- The DPWI set aside R28 million on private-owned establishments to accommodate citizens who have to be quarantined. A number of repatriated citizens were subsequently accommodated at inadequate government facilities, instead of the private-owned establishments. Minister Patricia De Lille blamed a “scam” in her Department where officials have been moving passengers to unapproved sites and “pocketing” the difference between those sites and the hotels that were arranged.
- The Eastern Cape Education Department allegedly awarded a R160 million contract to Sizwe Africa IT Group, a subsidiary of ANC ally Iqbal Survé’s Ayo Technology Solutions, without a competitive bidding process.
- The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department allegedly bought personal protective equipment (PPE) at an inflated price of R422 million. The PPE has reportedly gone missing, threatening the safe reopening of schools in that province.
- There have over the past week also been questions around the lack of payment to successful government relief applicants. Numerous artists, athletes and farmers are still awaiting payment from their respective departments.
Covid-19 relief funds have been put in place because of the need for relief, supplies and services to be redirected towards the country’s efforts to defeat the virus. However, some have seemingly used this opportunity for self-enrichment at the expense of the state and the vulnerable.
It is for this reason that the DA believes it has become critically important for an Office of the Inspector General to be created within Treasury so that we can ensure that every single cent meant for relief is directed towards its intended purpose and not corrupt politicians and their friends.
In light of the vile acts by those who are exploiting the Covid-19 crisis, the DA once urges Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), to give an update and clarity on the progress of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) special Covid-19 anti-corruption units.
We cannot allow for time to pass by without any action being taken against those who have been implicated in wrongdoing. We are tired of tough talk, it’s time for action.
Click here to contribute to the DA’s legal action challenging irrational and dangerous elements of the hard lockdown in court