The allegations of tender corruption against Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku are serious and cannot be ignored.
This is according to Gauteng premier David Makhura, who yesterday announced that he has placed Masuku on leave of absence pending a full investigation into a R2.2bn personal protective equipment (PPE) tender scandal.
Makhura's spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga said PPEs orders from some of the companies that were flagged but not cancelled would still be procured for the hospitals but that some hospitals may have to place new orders.
The tender process, which also saw the husband of presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko being awarded two tenders worth R125m, is now subject to a special investigating unit (SIU) probe.
Makhura said his heart was "sore" that Masuku, who has led a successful fight against Covid-19, was facing such serious allegations.
"I must say that I'm disappointed, at this point I'm really really disappointed, to have an MEC who has been leading this front very well, facing allegations that I can't ignore.
"This cannot be ignored by any serious government, nor can the ANC ignore [it] and the ANC itself has taken specific decisions," he said.
The allegations first reported by the Sunday Independent are that Masuku and his wife Loyiso may have used their close relationship with the Dikos to influence the awarding of tenders to them.
Makhura said the investigation by the SIU was probing government officials who played a role in the awarding of tenders and that he wanted whoever was found in the wrong to face jail time.
"We want to make sure that on this procurement, corruption on PPEs, we must send a strong message. People must go to jail," Makhura said.
He said he had taken a decision to place Masuku on leave of absence for four weeks when the SIU is expected to release its report.
"It is a setback as the premier who had so much confidence in the MEC, but it is true he must clear his name," Makhura said.
"We can't just sit here and say 'no what he is saying is true'. I may believe him but there may be somebody who can say 'hey, you might not have done something but these other things happened in your name'.
"That's why it's a very important step as a leader, take a step back, he has taken a step back but the battle continues."
The decision to place Masuku on leave of absence and refer him to the ANC's integrity committee has been met with mixed emotions.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said the decision by the Gauteng PEC (provincial executive committee) doesn't inspire confidence as it seemed to be a reaction to public outcry.
"The ANC cannot say it is genuinely against corruption here. For a long time Gauteng has gathered a reputation for corruption, and this is only getting worse," he said.
Another analyst, professor Mcebisi Ndletyana, said the decision was not surprising as the ruling party in the province has a history of acting on accusations of wrongdoing.
He cited action taken on former health MECs Qedani Mahlangu and Brian Hlongwa, who were also asked to step down.
The provincial integrity commission, which Masuku, his wife Loyiso and presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko have been referred to, asked Mahlangu to step down in 2018 for her role in the Life Esidimeni tragedy while Hlongwa resigned months earlier before a similar decision was announced.
"ANC Gauteng has been very emphatic on moral issues. They are the only province throughout the provincial leaders of the ANC that have been consistent on organisational renewal and ethical leadership going back to 2012," Ndletyana said.
He believed the decision would go a long way in setting a precedent on the response to corruption allegations.
Makhura yesterday said he had appointed road and transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo to act in Masuku's absence.
Political analyst Levy Ndou said the ANC was under pressure to act on allegations of corruption and was forced to take an immediate decision to act against Masuku and Diko.
"The ANC is doing this for a number of reasons: for showing the public that they act on corrupt activities within their ranks and so that if these people are innocent they should have been cleared by ANC and government processes and they are doing it for PR [public relations] exercise.
"The ANC might be aware that those people are innocent. Now they want to say to everybody, we have taken our member through an integrity commission and the SIU processes and they have been found to be innocent. So nobody would then be able to still talk about PPEs and mention the names of Masuku and Diko."
The SACP in the province welcomed the decision to place on leave Masuku and his wife Loyiso, who serves as an MMC in the City of Johannesburg.
- Additional reporting by Isaac Mahlangu
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