EFF lists interventions for Education system

Image via: Laird Forbes / Gallo

‘Waste of time’: EFF slams cabinet’s PPE corruption probe

The red berets have said the committee was nothing but a public relations exercise aimed at misleading the people of South Africa into thinking government is taking a tough stance against corruption

EFF lists interventions for Education system

Image via: Laird Forbes / Gallo

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has expectedly condemned cabinet’s decision to appoint a committee that will look into corruption related to the procurement of PPE tenders.

“Such a decision is a waste of time, irrational and a clear sign of lack of leadership that characterises Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and the whole Cabinet. All members of the Cabinet individually and collectively have failed to put basic measures in their departments to ensure that procurement in general and related to COVID-19 is efficient, corruption-free and results in value for money for taxpayers”, spokesperson Vuyani Pambo said in a statement on Thursday, 6 August 2020.

A number of allegations surrounding lucrative PPE contracts have since come to light, amid the COVID-19 pandemic – most notably, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko and her husband, Chief Thandisizwe Diko.

While the president has since vowed to tackle corruption, many including the EFF and other opposition parties, have been sceptical, citing lack of action – two years after taking office and promising to deal with the plundering of state coffers. Ramaphosa has, however, authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the PPE scandal

EFF: ‘The committee is a PR exercise’

The red berets are not convinced that the committee will investigate the true extent of corruption, wrongdoing and maladministration, saying it is the same government that is being accused of looting.

It said the committee was nothing but a public relations exercise aimed at misleading the people of South Africa into thinking government is taking a tough stance against corruption.

“Government cannot investigate government on corruption; it has to be an external body such as law enforcement agencies, public protector, parliament, the judiciary or any other body that is not part of the problem that investigates government corruption”, Pambo added.

‘We warned about the looting spree’

The EFF also said it had warned about the corruption and looting that would unfold over COVID-19-related PPE tenders being awarded in the wake of the global pandemic. The party said it wrote to departments, municipalities and state-owned entities demanding details on budgets, particularly related to the procurement of PPEs.

“The very same people who are now appointed into a committee could not provide this kind of information for their own department, let alone provide decisive leadership in their own departments to ensure there is no looting of taxpayers’ monies”, Pambo said.