businesses SANDF COVID-19

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SA stuck with R200m of ‘unusable COVID drugs’ – due to SANDF gaffe

How does this actually happen? SANDF has faced blistering criticism on Thursday, after it was found they had spent a fortune on dodgy COVID treatments.

businesses SANDF COVID-19

Photo: Flickr

It can be argued that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory during the pandemic – but this latest controversy could be the icing on top of a calamitous cake. It’s understood that senior executives serving the army spent over R200 million on ‘unproven COVID treatments’ – and hid evidence of the payments.

How SANDF signed off on ‘useless’ R200m COVID treatments

The order for the Heberon Alpha R 2B, also known as Interferon, did not come from the South African Military Health Services (SAMHS) – and as such, has yet to be accepted as stock as this particular medication is not registered for use in South Africa. The DA, meanwhile, say they have proof that SANDF tried to quietly bury the costs of their failed purchase.

Kobus Marais, the shadow minister of defence, has urged his opposite number to come clean about this issue. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is the head of the under-fire ministry, and her alleged lack of oversight has saddled SA with a costly consignment of unusable drugs that cannot gain regulatory approval on our shores.

Cuba deal kicks up a fuss

It is believed that the so-called ‘treatment’ was initially procured from Cuba, and had even been championed by Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina. However, confusion still reigns within SANDF. It’s not been established how the order was signed and executed, nor is it abundantly clear who is responsible. Marais, however, is demanding some straight answers:

“It is simply shocking that the SANDF would spend R215 million of taxpayers’ money on medication not approved by the Department of Health. Who within SANDF approved the order of this consignment without doing due diligence? And why did the SANDF procure this huge consignment without consultation with health officials?”

“The DA will also raise this situation when the Auditor-General of South Africa (AG) appears before Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans to report on Covid spending. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula must give an urgent account to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) to explain this wasted payment.”

Kobus Marais
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