The IFP calls on the KZN MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, to account for the millions spent on dumped Covid-19 awareness posters in Pietermaritzburg.

It is alleged that the KZN Department of Health has spent millions of rands on Covid-19 awareness posters. Service providers were meant to print and erect these posters in different areas, to educate uMgungundlovu residents about Covid-19, however, instead, service providers dumped the posters. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the greed, corruption, flouting of supply chain management (SCM) processes, as well as the incompetence of service providers. It seems that everyone, including public servants, wanted a piece of the pie and embezzled public funds during the pandemic.

If true, this is wasteful expenditure of public funds by the KZN Department of Health, and someone must be held accountable. This money could have been better used to address some of the many pressing issues facing the healthcare system in KZN. Therefore, the IFP seeks the following answers from the KZN MEC of Health:

• How much has been spent on producing Covid-19 awareness posters since the start of the pandemic?
• What selection procedure was used to decide upon service providers to be awarded the tender to print posters?
• What are the names of the companies that were awarded the tender to print the posters?
• In which areas were the posters meant to be erected?
• What plans are in place to ensure that these service providers are held accountable for dumping posters?

All these questions must be answered by the Hon. MEC, as public funds were spent on incompetent service providers. This seems to be nothing short of well-orchestrated corruption, designed to benefit well-connected business people who are known to be friends of the ruling party. The IFP believes that a thorough investigation must be conducted into this matter, in order to ascertain whether there was any collusion between service providers and officials in the KZN Health Department.

Further, this shows that there is a lack of monitoring of the service providers contracted to the KZN Department of Health, and the spending of tax-payers’ money. Monitoring and evaluation is critical for ensuring that the KZN Department of Health is spending public funds wisely.

We urge the KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, and the Chairperson of the KZN Legislature Health Portfolio Committee, Nomakiki Majola, to summon the KZN MEC for Health. She must explain how millions in public funds were spent on incompetent service providers and further, how the money will be recovered. It is the duty of the Premier to show bold leadership by holding his Cabinet MECs accountable. Failure to summon the MEC for Health will indicate that the Premier is in favour of wasteful expenditure, and the appointment of incompetent service providers.

Issued by IFP