COJ investigates spending of R80 million on Covid-19 supplies in two weeks
JOBURG – Afriforum laid criminal charges of corruption against the City of Johannesburg and relevant suppliers.
It has been alleged that the City of Johannesburg spent R80 million on emergency procurements in the first two weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown.
This is according to a report by eNCA which stated that an internal audit found legislation and policies were ‘grossly violated’ in the process.
City spokesperson Nathatisi Modingoane confirmed to eNCA that the City had immediately implemented measures to stop further abuses. The report stated that implicated officials would only face disciplinary action once a final forensic audit had been completed. It also alleged that the City had been sold substandard goods such as sanitisers while suppliers had also overpriced their medical supplies.
On 10 September, civil rights organisation AfriForum laid criminal charges of corruption against the City of Johannesburg and relevant suppliers. A statement from the organisation read, ‘These complaints follow after an internal audit report of this city council was sent to AfriForum’s private prosecution unit.’
They went on to say that the audit suggested that various laws and regulations were grossly violated during this time. Head of AfriForum’s Anti-Corruption Unit, Monique Taute said, “It is astonishing that the City of Johannesburg, despite this prima facie evidence, has not yet taken any criminal action against these individuals, as well as implicated parties in the city council.”
