ANC PEC: Masuku and Diko to step aside from organisational activities

The African National Congress (ANC) provincial executive committee (PEC) resolved that Former Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko should be barred from any organisational work pending the outcome of the investigation into their alleged personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption. 

The PEC further held that Masuku’s wife Loyiso could return to work as MMC in the City of Joburg after her involvement was found to be unsubstantiated. 

PEC WELCOMES MAKHURA’S DECISION TO RELEASE MASUKU

Parks Tau said the PEC welcomed and unanimously supported the decision of Gauteng Premier David Makhura to release Masuku from his responsibilities as MEC for health. 

“The meeting further mandated the premier to take all the necessary steps to strengthen and stabilise the department of health both politically and administratively,” said Tau.  

“The PEC is concerned that for more than a decade, this department has had persistent structural and institutional witnesses that have led to some of these problems that we are experiencing, including corruption and maladministration,” he added. 

BANDILE MASUKU AND DIKO TO STEP ASIDE 

In order to protect the integrity of the ANC and the affected comrades, the PEC further decided that Masuku and Diko should step aside from organisational activities pending the finalisation of the process. 

“The PEC report and the follow up done by the PWC found that allegations against Loyiso Masuku in relation to her involvement in this regard could not be substantiated. The PEC decided that she should resume her responsibilities,” said Tau. 

“This decision also takes into account that there are currently SIU investigations and should anything be found on all these matters, the PEC would apply its mind and reconsider its decisions based on any information that is provided,” he added. 

PPE TENDER CORRUPTION 

While Masuku faced allegations of involvement in unlawful PPE supply contracts in the Gauteng Department of Health, Diko’s husband Chief Madzikane II Diko’s company Royal Bhaca Projects was allegedly awarded a R125 million tender to supply PPE to the department. These developments led to several ANC PEC meetings. 

After the revelations in late July, Diko and her husband released a joint statement saying that there had been no corruption in their dealings.

“Although there was no corruption in the bidding and subsequent awarding of the PPE contract to Royal Bhaca Projects, we accept that years of cronyism have created an environment of mistrust and suspicion when individuals, who are close to political office and influence, are seen to be benefiting from the State in ways that may be unethical,” the statement read.

“We deeply regret the error of judgement that led Royal Bhaca to seek to do business with this Department in the first place,” it added.