In the context of the culture of looting and corruption that became firmly rooted under ANC reign, extensive corruption with the tender processes during the Covid-19 pandemic was to be expected. Thus, the FF Plus welcomes the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) investigation into the matter.
During an online session of the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services that took place earlier today, it came to light that the SIU has already engaged with The Hawks regarding "serious allegations" of irregularities with tenders that relate to the pandemic.
According to Adv Anthony Mothibi, head of the SIU, the allegations relate to tender processes in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape which have to do with protective clothing and food parcels. In terms of the disaster regulations, government entities are allowed to speed up tender processes.
The National Treasury did issue stringent measures to curb corruption, but over the years it has become evident that government institutions are so riddled with corrupt officials that no measure, no matter how strict it is, will prevent it.
Obviously, allowing for tenders to be sped up paved the way for fraud and corruption and this raises the serious question of how much of the mostly borrowed R800 billion of disaster relief money will be lost to corruption.
The FF Plus will put these questions forward in the relevant parliamentary committee, but it can already advise the SIU to start casting its net much wider than just KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The tragedy of the matter is that the money that is being looted is vital for the delivery of essential services, to save business enterprises from financial ruin and to put food on the table for those who are starving.
Thus, the FF Plus will go out of its way to ensure that the right questions are asked about the matter and to see to it that the matter is investigated with the thoroughness and urgency it deserves.
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