EUSA calls for inquiry into ‘looted’ Covid-19 funds
The Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA) says it has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking him to launch an inquiry into the alleged looting of Covid-19 relief funds by the Department of Basic Education.
The teacher’s union is accusing the department of looting up to R4 billion since the start of the lockdown.
Spokesperson Kabelo Mahlobogwane says the department cannot be allowed to get away with what they believed to be criminal behaviour.
“The Department of Basic Education, alone, has admitted that they bought JoJo tanks with R600 million. This is one of the biggest lootings that we’ve seen from the Department of Education.”
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Mahlobogwane says they will also approach the public protector to investigate the matter.
“We are also going to be submitting a complaint with the public protector before going to the SAPS to register this as a criminal case.
“With a looting case of this amount, there must be some money laundering as well.”
He says the union is pleading with the African National Congress (ANC) to apply pressure on the president to investigate this matter.
“When the former president Jacob Zuma looted an amount of R250m there was a lot of noise, especially from the ruling party so we hope the government will attend to this looting that is up to R4bn in the Department of Basic Education, with the same energy that they did when they were investigating state capture, Nkandla security upgrades and VBS.
“We want an investigation that is scientific and will leave no stone unturned,” Mahlobogwane says.
The Department of Basic Education could not be reached for comment.