Madonsela calls for appointment of a ‘Covid-19 minister’
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has called for the creation of a Cabinet position to solely deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Madonsela says she suspects the pandemic has stretched the various ministers who serve on the National Coronavirus Command Council beyond their means.
On Friday, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation hosted a virtual rally demanding accountability, transparency and consequences for Covid-19 corruption.
Madonsela made nine recommendations for dealing with the rot.
“I would also advise that at this point the president should seriously consider having a Covid-19 minister or a diaster management minister, because all of the other ministers already have too much to handle.
“For example, the Minister of Cogta needs to focus on local government which is crumbling. The Minister of Health needs to rebuild the health system and we need someone who is going to help clean up this mess, but secondly help us with the recovery period.”
Madonsela said she believes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s approach to the pandemic has been misguided.
“What saddens me is that everyone now blames the president. Yes, he’s the captain but he allowed himself to be barricaded by his own ministers. He didn’t choose the vehicle, he was advised by his ministers who moved him away from the Disaster Management Act and created a structure that mostly allows one structure to manage this very crucial time of our nation.
“That was wrong, it was not lawful and it was ill-advised.”
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Makwetu briefed the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on the probe into the looting of the stimulus package on Friday. "What our report is currently revealing is that the amounts that have exchanged hands, in respect of the areas were the allocations have been made, are nowhere near the full amount of the budget that was put aside, in terms of the R500 billion," said Makwetu.
Madonsela further called for greater transparency in the procurement process amid widespread allegations of the looting of Covid-19 funds.
She believes these allegations are only the tip of the iceberg.
“Let’s ask our government to establish bounty laws. Bounty laws are those laws where me, you and others can investigate alleged theft, fraud and corruption of public funds. If those funds are recovered, a percentage of that money is given to you.”
Madonsela said this has been successful in the United States.
Listen to Madonsela:
