The departments are run by Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, Mandla Msibi and Pat Ngomane.
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has announced the appointment of an independent team of investigators that will probe the corruption around the use of Covid-19 funds in 3 departments.
Tsipane said she has noted with “serious concern” the “inequitable distribution of resources to a limited group of entities”.
She said investigators will look at the criteria used when certain companies were appointed by Lindiwe Ntshalintshali’s sports and culture department, Mandla Msibi’s co-operative governance and Pat Ngomane’s finance department.
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The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency as well as the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency will also be investigated.
“Our investigators will assess the criteria utilised to select these benefited few,” she said.
Tsipane’s investigative team has 14 days to probe everything and report to her and if wrong doing is found the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will take over.
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Tsipane released a procurement disclosure report Wednesday 19 August 2020 in front of journalists at the government complex and said their preliminary investigation had shown that there were “discrepancies” in how certain companies were awarded work in these departments.
The report shows that Sasekani Manzini’s health department spent the highest of all the departments, followed by Bonakele Majuba’s education department and Vusi Shongwe’s agricultural department.
R444 million was spent by Manzini’s health department while procuring personal protective equipment (PPE), R96.3 million by Majuba’s and R32.8 million by Shongwe.
Ngomane’s department spent the least amount of money, at R555 000, human settlement MEC Norah Mahlangu R1 million, safety and security MEC Gabisile Shabalala R2.1 million, Ntshalintshali R4.7 million, Msibi R6.3 million and social development MEC Thandi Shongwe R9.7 million.
The parks board spent R622 000 while Mega spent R582 000.
(edited by MLM)
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