Makhura's fitness to hold office must be investigated - ANCYL, DA call for Gauteng premier's head

28th January 2021 By: News24Wire

Makhura's fitness to hold office must be investigated - ANCYL, DA call for Gauteng premier's head

Gauteng Premier David Makhura

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in Gauteng has called for Premier David Makhura to face the music and appear before the ANC provincial integrity commission over corruption allegations related to the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the provincial Department of Health.

The call came as the Special Investigating Unit  (SIU) was investigating PPE tender corruption.

An affidavit by the Gauteng Department of Health's former chief financial officer Kabelo Lehloenya alleges that Makhura was involved in the awarding of multimillion rand PPE tenders.

Lehloenya alleges that Makhura gave suggestions for which companies should be appointed to supply and deliver PPE in the province.

This has led to renewed calls for his axing by the Democratic Alliance (DA). Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga is set to hand over a letter to the Hawks, requesting it to urgently investigate the premier.

In a statement, the DA said the letter contains detailed information about all PPE and Covid-19-related corruption scandals under Makhura's watch.

The ANCYL also joined the call for Makhura's fitness to hold office to be investigated.

The youth league recently went head-to-head with the premier over his choice of a replacement for embattled former Gauteng health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku.

The youth league said Makhura should avail himself to appear before the ANC provincial integrity committee and "account for his failure to facilitate oversight and prevent this outrageous looting of state resources".

"The ANCYL cannot overlook the seriousness of the allegations levelled against the premier and the fact that the Gauteng provincial government under him continues being implicated in one scandal after the other. If the situation continues unabated, our people will lose the little confidence that they still have in the ANC, and will consequently vote the ANC out of power," it said.

The so-called Young Lions also called on Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to account for the R430-million spent on "deep cleaning" and "decontaminating" public schools.

"We simply cannot accept his 'shock' on this matter and therefore call upon Makhura to hold Lesufi accountable for the alleged wasteful and exorbitant spending at the department," it said.