ANC Gauteng refer Masuku, Diko to a Disciplinary Committee
The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has resolved to refer the former Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku and Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko to the party's Disciplinary Committee (DC).
This comes after the allegations of the involvement of Masuku, Diko and Loyiso Masuku in a multi-million rand tender to procure Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)for the Gauteng Department of Health.
Masuku was removed from his position as the MEC for Health by Gauteng premier David Makhura last week, after a report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) found that he had failed to execute his functions in compliance with the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
Both Masuku and Diko are members of the Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).
The ANC’s provincial secretary in Gauteng, Jacob Khawe announced the resolutions taken after a virtual meeting of the PEC held on Tuesday.
"The outcome of the DC will determine if both comrades should continue being PEC members or not. In order to protect the integrity of both the ANC and the affected members, the PEC resolved that Comrade Bandile Masuku and Khusela Diko should not participate in organizational processes that relates to the finalization of the PEC decision," says Khawe.
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Masuku went on special leave in July following allegations of irregularities in the province's personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement processes. Makhura made the announcement during a press briefing on Friday at Chris Baragwanath Hospital. Makhura said an investigation by the special investigating unit (SIU) found that he failed to execute his functions in compliance with the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
He says the PEC report couldn’t find any direct link of Loyiso Masuku being involved in the PPE procurement corruption.
The PEC endorsed the Provincial Working Committee (PWC) recommendation that she be allowed to go back to work.
"This decision also takes into consideration that there is currently an SIU investigation, and should anything be found that suggests otherwise, then the PEC will reconsider its decision, " adds Khawe.
Loyiso is a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Group Corporate and Shared Services in the City of Johannesburg.
The PEC also welcomed the decision taken by Makhura to release Masuku from his responsibilities; however, the meeting further mandated that Makhura should urgently appoint a Health MEC to bring stability in the department.
"It is an open secret that the department has no senior staff personnel in the form of MEC, HOD, DDG, CFO and everyone is in the acting capacity," concludes the PEC on the issue.
