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Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to account to Parliament for what he said was the ANC’s Covid19 “feeding frenzy”.
He said even though this was entirely predictable, the frenzy over Covid19-related tenders among ANC-connected individuals is a filthy stain on our country in this time of crisis.
Steenhuisen said he would be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly to request a snap debate on the matter, in which President Ramaphosa himself will have to come and answer for the behaviour of his party’s members.
He said the President, who spoke out strongly against corruption related to the Covid19 fightback, must set out exactly how he intends to act against each and every implicated individual.
However, the DA leader said despite Ramaphosa’s grand rhetoric, recent news has been awash with family members of the highest-ranking ANC politicians creaming profits off Covid19 tenders.
“At the rate at which these stories are breaking, it is possible that we have just seen the tip of the iceberg so far, but already we know of the following:
•President’s Ramaphosa’s son, Andile Ramaphosa, landed a R6 million contract to modify taxis in Gauteng to comply with Covid19 regulations.
•President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko’s husband, Thandisizwe Diko, landed a R125 million contract to supply PPE.
•ANC secretary-General Ace Magashule’s sons, Tshepiso Magashule and Thato Magashule, landed Covid19 procurement contracts in the Free State to the value of R2.7 million.
•Former cabinet minister Minister Nomvula Mokonyane daughter, Katleho Mokonyane, landed a R3 million PPE contract despite her company only being six months old at the time.
"If this is what we know of the involvement of the families of high-profile ANC members, one can only imagine what the picture looks like further down the line in ANC-run provinces and municipalities where tender corruption has become the very reason to run for public office,” Steenhuisen said.
