The weekend papers were embellished with front page headlines highlighting the corruption by members of the state and the ruling African National Congress who allegedly put their dirty hands in the cookie-jar of the R 500 billion stimulus package. In addition to this, yesterday South Africa’s public protector office said it had received a multiple complaints related to corruption related to the R350 Covid-19 grant. However, the scandal to recently make headlines is of the Gauteng provice MEC Bandile Masuku who has been put on leave of absence over his alleged involvement in a controversial tender to supply personal protective equipment to the department during the coronavirus pandemic. Masuku has been accused of influencing the processes that led to the 125-million rand tender being awarded to Royal Bhaca -- a company owned by Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko's husband -- amaBhaca chief Thandisizwe Diko.
To assist us on this topic:
• Theo Venter, political and policy specialist
• Sanusha Naidu, political analyst
