PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa said corrupt practices around medical safety gear for COVID-19 health workers is tantamount to “murder”, echoing recent sentiments made by the World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Speaking to members of the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) on Wednesday evening, Ramaphosa said excessive profiteering from personal protective equipment (PPE) was ‘unacceptable’ and ‘criminal’.
He said government procurement systems need to be completely overhauled.
Ramaphosa said he was appalled that a mask which cost R2 is now being sold by service providers at a staggering R90.
“That must tell you that this is not only wrong but criminal. It is completely unacceptable. I indeed subscribe to the WHO director-general’s opinion that COVID corruption is akin to murder,” Ramaphosa said SANEF members.
Ramaphosa said government was currently investigating related to the COVID-19 relief funds.
He said the processes around corruption are being undertaken by all agencies
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