Mabuza: Govt ‘caught napping’ on procurement systems
Deputy President David Mabuza has admitted government dropped the ball in the tender processes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the start of the lockdown in March, a large number of procurement irregularities have been exposed.
Several high-ranking government officials have also been linked to the fraud and corruption of Covid-19 funds.
On Thursday Mabuza responded to oral questions in the National Assembly.
“I must agree that as government I’m sure that we were caught napping. Some of our systems, our procurement systems, leaves much to be desired that is why the President has called upon all of us to try and revamp our procurement system,” he told Members of Parliament.
“We are dealing with out procurement systems trying to close all the loopholes that are there.”
Mabuza said government would endeavour to upgrade their systems.
“Of course, all the system are being managed by human beings. Human beings can always flout these systems because they are responsible of creating the very systems but in this case, we need to have checks and balances that would help us to detect corruption as early as possible.”
Mabuza also confirmed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is looking into tender fraud totalling at least R5 billion.
Listen to Mabuza below:
