He was responding to a report in the Sunday Independent linking the minister's wife, Loyiso Lugayeni-Masuku, to a suspicious R125m tender for personal protective equipment (PPE).
Lugayeni-Masuku is apparently a close friend of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko. The latter's husband, Madzikane II Thandisizwe Diko was awarded the PPE contract through his company, Royal Bhaca Project. The company was formed in December 2019 and has no track record in PPE supply.
“Throughout my career, I have always acted with utmost integrity and conviction. I strongly refute any suggestion that Covid-19 procurement is being used as a means to raise funds ahead of ANC conferences,” Masuku said in a statemnt.
He said that the process of awarding contracts within the department rested entirely on supply chain management in the finance department.
“As MEC for Health in Gauteng, I remain committed to ensuring that our comprehensive health response is focused on saving lives. I will do everything in my power to ensure that anyone found to be stealing money meant for Covid-19 relief are identified and brought to book,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Presidency issued a statement saying that Diko has taken a leave of absence with immediate effect because "it was important that the government was not undermined or adversely affected by the allegations against her, especially while the country battled the Covid-19 pandemic".
