Image via: Adobe Stock
Image via: Adobe Stock
After a Special Investigative Unit (SIU) report found evidence of dodgy COVID-19 decontamination contracts that were distributed to service providers by officials in the Gauteng Education Department, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for heads to roll.
Head of Department Edward Mosuwe, CFO Johan van Coller and Supply Chain Management Chief Director Samora Mhlophe were all named in the report that detailed how 173 of these service providers lacked accreditation and weren’t registered on the Central Supplier Database. It found that the Education Department irregularly spent R431 million on decontamination of schools within three months last year.
SIU freeze assets linked to host of entities
Following the investigation, the SIU moved to freeze R4.7 million worth of assets owned by 14 entities linked to the school decontamination tenders after having been granted an order by the Special Tribunal.
The SIU said on Friday 28 May that the assets seized include two Mercedes Benz V Class, a Landrover Range Rover Sport, a Haval H6 and a Toyota Avanza. They said that the order obtained from the court prohibits a host of individuals and entities from dealing with the funds held in the bank accounts and assets.
These entities belong to seven companies, five individuals and two family trusts, who were named as follows:
- Fikile Mpofana Pty Ltd,
- Insimu Projects Pty Ltd,
- Insimu Consulting Pty Ltd,
- Insimu Medical Group,
- Mangaliso Pty Ltd,
- Lisondalo Pty Ltd,
- Zenaldo Consulting Pty Ltd,
- Sigwile Bright Mhlongo,
- Fikele Eugenia Mpofana,
- Lindokuhle Bridget Mkhize,
- Njabulo Mabaso,
- Richard Mweli,
- Shuphula Family Trust, and
- Madangu Family Trust
DA call for suspension of Gauteng Education Department officials
Khume Ramulifho, the DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, said that Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi should suspend the officials with immediate effect.
“The DA welcomes the SIU’s report findings and progress made so far and believes the recovered money should immediately be allocated to eradicating asbestos schools and classrooms, as well as the construction of more classrooms to alleviate overcrowding in schools. This will ensure more effective teaching and learning for students,” she said.
“This is a step in the right direction to ensure that they recover all our monies meant to ensure that our children receive quality education and are taught in a conducive environment,” said Ramulifho.
