By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Sunday moved to quash claims by former Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku that his reinstatement by the ANC proves he did nothing wrong in the province’s procurement of PPE last year.
“As these aspects of the statements relate to the SIU findings, the SIU is left with no other option but to set the record straight. If the statements are not corrected, they would have the effect of affecting the credibility of the SIU findings and to mislead the public, “said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago in a statement.
The criminal investigation is still ongoing. When evidence pointing to criminality is uncovered during the criminal investigation, the SIU will refer such evidence to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks for further action,” Kganyago said.
Masuku had on Saturday issued a statement saying he was vindicated after the ANC this week announced that its national disciplinary committee (NDC) had overturned his and Khusela Diko’s suspensions from the Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC).
After questions arose, Royal Bhaca was replaced by Ledla Structural Development, which registered on the database on 9 April 2020 – 11 days before being awarded a R139 million PPE supply contract.
So far, the SIU has recovered R124 million.
According to the judgement, although no crime was committed, the SIU found “Dr Masuku’s conduct to be wanting”.
The SIU said it had so far only found that Masuku had failed to execute his duties the Gauteng health MEC, which they said “allowed the malfeasance, maladministration, malpractice and the total disregard of the rule of law to continue under his ‘leadership’.”
His neglect of his duties was illustrated in “his failure to attend to his emails, despite being in a critical leadership position”, the SIU continued.
Masuku was therefore being criticised for neglect, not lying, the SIU said.
“Prima facie, Dr Masuku’s own version is a confession of unprofessionalism and dereliction of his duties.
The issue of him being corrupt or not was not part of what the court had to determine, as the SIU had not even made a determination on it yet.
“The SIU is in the process of recovering the legal costs from him,” Kganyago said.