Staff Reporter.
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in Gauteng on Sunday said Premier David Makhura should consider stepping aside as he faced allegations of being involved in a corrupt personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement scandal.
Makhura on Saturday said he was willing to subject himself to ANC rules including presenting himself to the party’s integrity committee.
Gauteng Health Chief Financial Officer Kabelo Lehloenya accused the premier’s office of contravening the law by handpicking certain individuals to supply PPE.
The Special Investigating Unit is already probing corruption surrounding the procurement of multimillion-rand tender deals in the province.
The youth league spokesperson Nkosana Mtolo, said, “Our position as the ANC Youth League in Gauteng is very clear – those who are implicated in COVID-19-related looting and are undergoing investigations ought to step down from their positions so as to preserve the integrity of the investigation.”
Meanwhile the DA in Gauteng has also said it would ask President Cyril Ramaphosa to force Makhura to step down claiming that a former provincial health official had implicated him in the tender fraud scandal involving PPE.
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga, on Thursday used the affidavit including a Tribunal judgment, to ask the Hawks to investigate Makhura.
Their complaint against Makhura was made electronically.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase confirmed that the DA lodged a complaint with their office.
“The matter is receiving our attention and we will give them feedback in due course,” Nkwalase.
He, however, said ordinarily such cases should have been opened at a police station if they have evidence to support a charge of corruption.
“This matter will be dealt with in a case by case manner. We will evaluate its evidence before making any decision to investigate,” Nkwalase said.