Khusela Diko, husband deny claims of corruption

The Dikos say they acknowledge and accept the anger expressed by South Africans after two government tenders were granted to their company. 

In a statement, the couple says they tried to rectify the matter by seeking to cancel the contracts – and also apologised for the error in judgement. 

The pair maintain no funds were paid to the Royal Bhaca Projects and welcome investigations into the matter. 

“Despite the absence of any illegality and confirmation that no public funds were ever paid to Royal Bhaca Projects – details of which will be further ventilated by the investigations – the matter continues to draw outrage from across society. 

“Although there was no corruption in the bidding and subsequent awarding of the PPE contract to Royal Bhaca Projects, we accept that years of cronyism have created an environment of mistrust and suspicion when individuals, who are close to political office and influence, are seen to be benefiting from the State in ways that may be unethical.” 

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Last week a report by the Sunday Independent linked MEC Bandile Masuku and his wife Loyiso Lugayeni-Masuku to a R125 million tender for protective gear.   

The King and Queen of Bhaca tribe in the Eastern Cape also rejected claims that they used their close personal ties with Masuku and his wife to benefit from the state. 

They say at no point did they discuss the tender for the supply of PPEs with the Masukus. 

“The ties between the Diko and Masuku families predate the public office positions that are occupied by the respective members of both families. We have never hidden the relationship, as evidenced by various social media posts that have been referenced by the media.”