LETTER TO THE EDITOR
In the past general election, the ANC in Gauteng performed poorly, which was expected. The province conveniently blamed former president Jacob Zuma for their poor performance. Poor Zuma!
Interestingly, since then the Gauteng provincial government has been embroiled in corruption scandals, from Life Esidimeni and personal protective equipment to exorbitant amounts used for sanitising schools in the province.
Four years or so ago, the Gauteng government was embroiled in the Life Esidimeni scandal. The provincial health department displaced mentally ill patients without informing their families. More than 100 patients died in the process. May their souls rest in peace.
Last year, the Gauteng provincial government was also involved in the PPE scandal. (PPEs were meant to help manage the Covid-19 epidemic in the province). PPE tenders were given to friends. The MEC of Health, Dr Bandile Masuku, was axed for failing to exercise oversight.
Whilst the PPE scandal is still fresh in our minds, another one has emerged. The Department of Education in Gauteng has spent R431 million in sanitising schools. Yet Solidarity has used R300 million to build a university in Centurion.
The MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, has pleaded ignorance and instituted an investigation on the matter. Panyaza has also promised that heads are going to roll. The curious question is: What about his head? Only time will tell.
The above-mentioned corruption scandals happened under Premier David Makhura’s watch. Yet Makhura remains comfortable in his position. As a consequence management, he should resign. Otherwise, corruption will persist in Gauteng.
By Thabile Mange from Kagiso
The Star