The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Limpopo is perturbed by the news of allegations of corruption and nepotism in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the province’s department of health, reported in the media over the weekend.

The SACP in Limpopo held a meeting with its Provincial Treasurer, who is the MEC of the department of health, where she clarified the issues around the procurement process. We, however, do not take the allegations lightly, as this creates an opportunity for “Covidpreneurs” to loot the state.

The SACP wants this matter to get full attention and be dealt with thoroughly and swiftly by the provincial government. The simultaneous pandemic of Covid corruption, whereby “Covidpreneurs” want to make a quick buck out of the fear, sickness, suffering and death of our people must be halted here and now. This is totally inhuman and unacceptable.

As the SACP in the Limpopo Province, we want this matter to be urgently followed up and nipped in the bud. We therefore demand the following:

·         The SACP Limpopo Province will urgently write to the Premier, Chupu Stan Mathabatha, to request President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise the Special Investigations Unit through a proclamation to investigate the allegations. We will monitor progress on this urgent request. Should a need arise, depending on our assessment, we will approach the SACP Central Committee’s Secretariat to intervene.

·         We demand evidence that all companies actually delivered the said PPEs.

·         We call for the lifestyle audit and vetting of the chief director in the supply chain and all people involved in the procurement process in the department.

Issued by SACP Limpopo