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The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng will write to Premier Panyaza Lesufi requesting that he immediately put the officials implicated in the R197 million Gauteng Airwing contract scandal on precautionary suspension. We demand that he disclose who knew about the irregularities and when and present a clear plan to recover the R156.4 million. He must also ensure transparent procurement of a replacement Airwing service and provide regular updates on the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) investigation.

Premier Lesufi has confirmed the DA’s long-standing suspicion that the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) knew about irregularities in the R197,4 million Simunye Air Charter helicopter contract, yet failed to hold a single official accountable and appoint an alternative service provider. This failure to act has denied Gauteng residents an effective airwing to support policing operations, combat crime, and respond swiftly to emergencies.

In his response to follow-up questions posed by the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Premier Panyaza Lesufi disclosed that the possible irregularities or non-compliance around the Simunye contract came to the GPG’s attention on 23 July 2024, after being flagged by the Auditor-General in the 2023/24 financial year audit process.

Premier Lesufi highlights that the contract was terminated on 6 January 2026, almost 18 months later. Shockingly, no disciplinary or precautionary action has been taken against the four officials identified as persons of interest in the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation. Furthermore, he reported that there is currently no plan to recover the R156.4 million irregularly paid to the service provider.

Gauteng residents have a right to know why officials involved in a contract that broke the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) and Treasury Regulations are still in their jobs more than two years after the irregularity was uncovered. Either Lesufi is shielding officials implicated in serious procurement irregularities, as he did in the case of former Gauteng Health Head Lesiba Arnold Malotana, or he is failing to enforce consequence management.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would promptly suspend implicated officials to protect the integrity of the investigation, strengthen procurement oversight, and recover public funds lost through irregular expenditure.

Issued by DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety Michael Sun