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The Acting Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, has "instructed" the Eastern Cape Health Department to take disciplinary action against the officials involved in the R10m medical scooter project.
On Wednesday, Gcaleka released this report and 20 others, that were investigated by her office in the 2020/2021 financial year.
She said the Acting Head of the Eastern Cape Health Department must institute the disciplinary process within 90 days from the issuing of this report.
"We found that the procurement process followed by the Eastern Cape Department of Health when it awarded Fabkomp contract number, SCMU (3) 2020-2021/ 0022HO, to supply motorbikes with a side-car ambulance or clinic, was improper and in contravention of applicable legal prescripts."
She said the Eastern Cape Department of Health did not observe relevant provisions of the Constitution, the PFMA, several Treasury regulations as well as relevant parts of national Treasury instructions, SCM instructions as well as the relevant part of the EC Health Departments own supply chain management policy "in the process this procurement."
The Acting Public Protector said to remedy this "maladministration and improper conduct", the acting head of the ECDOH must take appropriate steps in respect of disciplinary action against the officials involved in and responsible for the "non-compliance" and must be done within 90 of the report's release.
Gcaleka said the Acting HOD must also ensure that all officials involved in supply chain management processes, as well as senior management, attend a workshop on the relevant legislation and Treasury rules regulating the procurement of goods and services within 60 days.
