SIU’s Diko spotlight turns on Gauteng health MEC

A damning Special Investigating Unit report has placed suspended Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku at the centre of dodgy Covid-19 PPE tender procurement processes worth R125m.

The preliminary SIU report, prepared for Gauteng premier David Makhura, is part of its investigation into Masuku’s role in the awarding of tenders to Royal Bhaca, a company owned by Thandisizwe Diko, husband of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s suspended spokesperson  Khusela Diko.

The Dikos and the Masukus are family friends.

Masuku has consistently distanced himself from his department’s procurement processes related to Royal Bhaca, but the SIU report paints a different picture.

The report, dated October 1, places Masuku firmly at the centre of the “irregular tender” to Diko’s company, and to two other companies associated with him.

According to the report, Masuku knew about the department’s irregular procurement processes.

It states that the department’s newly appointed supply chain head, Thandy Pino, had informed former head of department Prof Mkhululi Lukhele that then CFO Kabelo Lehloenya had been procuring PPE without complying with relevant laws, and that this was escalated to Masuku’s office.

Pino is on suspension pending the SIU investigation, while Lehloenya quit her position in May. Lukhele resigned at the height of the scandal last week.

Masuku has been placed on special leave. A decision on his fate is expected this week.

The report says that as a result of the dispute, Masuku knew about — or “ought to have reasonably known about” — the irregular procurement.

It rubbishes Masuku’s attempt to distance himself from the day-to-day transactions of his department, saying it is clear the department and Lehloenya went out of their way to fully inform Masuku about PPE procurement.

The report further states that the investigation into alleged collusion, corruption and involvement by Masuku and his wife Loyiso was ongoing.

Another critical preliminary SIU finding is that it has identified metadata which indicates that a quotation by Ledla, a company which is allegedly a front for Royal Bhaca, was allegedly created by Diko himself, and later modified by the former CFO.

Makhura’s spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga, said the premier had received the report, and he would inform Gauteng citizens on what action he would take during a press conference on Friday.

Masuku declined to comment on the report, saying it had been directed to the premier.

The SIU could not be reached for comment by print deadline on Thursday.