PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has been challenged to face the nation in Parliament to answer questions from MPs about alleged COVID-19 tenders.
This was announced on Saturday by interim leader of the Democratic Alliance’s John Steenhuisen, who decried the “feeding frenzy” over COVID-19-related tenders among ANC’s politically-connected individuals.
These unfolding scandals were “a filthy stain on our country in this time of crisis”, Steenhuisen charged.
“President’s Ramaphosa’s son, Andile Ramaphosa, landed a R6 million contract to modify taxis in Gauteng to comply with Covid-19 regulations. President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko’s husband, Thandisizwe Diko, landed a R125 million contract to supply PPE,” said Steenhisen.
“ANC secretary-General Ace Magashule’s sons, Tshepiso Magashule and Thato Magashule, landed Covid-19 procurement contracts in the Free State to the value of R2.7 million. Former cabinet minister Minister Nomvula Mokonyane daughter, Katleho Mokonyane, landed an R3-million PPE contract despite her company only being six months old at the time.”
Steenhuisen said the president “promised the nation four months ago that any such corruption would be met with strong action”.
“On 23 March, the president stood on national television and solemnly vowed to South Africans that profiteering from the Covid-19 pandemic would not be tolerated and that anyone who did so would face serious consequences,” he said.
In his televised address Ramaphosa said: “I want to make it clear that we expect all South Africans to act in the interest of the South African nation and not in their own selfish interests. We will, therefore, act very strongly against any attempts at corruption and profiteering from this crisis.
“I have directed that special units of the National Prosecuting Authority be put together to act immediately and arrest those against who we find evidence of corruption. We will work with the judiciary to expedite cases against implicated persons and make sure the guilty go to jail,” Steenhuisen quoted the president.
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
