News24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the swift prosecution of those found to have acted illegally in abusing public Covid-19 funds.
The Special Investigating Unit's (SIU’s) wide-ranging report into government spending linked to the Covid-19 pandemic was made public on Tuesday by President Cyril Ramaphosa's office. The report probed more than 5,400 government contracts, valued at R14.3 billion, which were awarded at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The SIU report recommends prosecutions in respect of government officials and civil servants who had a hand in awarding the irregular contracts – which currently stand at 2,803. The unit has referred 386 cases to be probed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The DA said it would study the report to gauge its implications and said in a statement on Tuesday: "We welcome the fact that referrals have been made to the National Prosecuting Authority, and we call on them to prosecute those who are guilty, without fear or favour, swiftly. A strong message needs to be sent to those who seek to profit off and loot the state. The only way to secure South Africa's future is to ensure that the wheels of justice continue turning. The corrupt and greedy have tried to make the country a lawless wasteland, where the rule of law and vulnerable people can be trampled. This must not be allowed to continue. Criminals should know that the free-fall is over."
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zintle Mahlati at News24
- Read too, SIU wants action on ex JB Marks mayor still earning salary despite links to Covid-19 corruption, at News24
- And also, Former Santaco CEO received payments from blacklisted PPE suppliers, SIU report reveals, at The Citizen
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