Public protector highlights EC govt Covid-19 maladministration
The Eastern Cape provincial government’s mismanagement of funds related to procurement for Covid-19-related services was in the spotlight on Wednesday when the public protector released 21 reports.
Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka released the reports in Cape Town.
One report related to the procurement of the controversial scooter ambulances by the Eastern Cape Department of Health in 2020.
She says the department did not follow the correct supply chain management processes when it awarded the contract to Fabkomp.
“The Eastern Cape department of health contravened/did not observe the relevant provisions of the constitution, the PFMA, several Treasury regulations and relevant paragraphs of the Department’s own supply chain policy in the process of this procurement,” she said.
“To remedy this improper conduct, the acting head of the Eastern Cape Department of Health must take appropriate steps in respect of disciplinary action against the officials that were involved in and responsible for the non compliance within 90 days of the issuing of this report.”
The office also found that the same department alongside the Department of Public Works did not follow the law when awarding a contact to Mioca Lodge for quarantine purposes.
The lodge is owned by the daughter of the provinces MEC for Transport and media Laison Weziwe Gxotiwe.
“We found that the supply chain management processes followed by the department of heal and the department of Public Works when it identified and procured accommodation from Mioca Lodge for Covid-19 patients was in contravention of applicable laws and legal prescripts regulating procument,” said Gcaleka
She added that the acting health HOD must institute disciplinary action against the director of Chris Hani District of the department.
