Thandisizwe Diko passes away after short illness
Thandisizwe Diko, the chief of the Bhaca nation and husband of suspended Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko, has died after a short illness.
Diko was 43 years old.
Family spokesperson Lumko Mtimde says Diko passed away in East London on Sunday.
“iSizwe samaBhaca and the Royal family are still coming to terms with this shocking and painful loss of our beloved father, son and husband, and will make further announcements once the Kingdom has finalised the arrangements for the burial.”
The couple hit the headlines last year when they were both implicated in the scandal around the procurement of personal protective equipment in Gauteng.
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The late chief’s company was awarded R125 million tender, but the transaction was later reversed after issues of conflict of interest were raised.
This resulted in President Cyril Ramphosa placing Diko on special leave.
The PPE scandal also cost Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku his job.
