Katleho Mokonyane, and her business partner, Bonelela Mgudlwa, have been ordered to pay millions earned from unlawful Covid-19 PPE contracts. Image: Supplied
Covid-19
1Min
South Africa
Mokonyane and Mgudlwa ordered to repay profits after tribunal finds widespread procurement violations in Mpumalanga Health Department.
Katleho Mokonyane, daughter of ANC Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane and her business partner, Bonelela Mgudlwa, have been ordered to pay millions earned from unlawful Covid-19 PPE contracts awarded by the Mpumalanga Department of Health.
The contracts, valued at R1,080,000.00 for 60,000 surgical masks and R13,297,500.00 for 150,000 protective medical jumpsuits, were declared constitutionally invalid, unlawful, and void.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Thursday welcomed the two judgments handed down by the Special Tribunal, which reviewed and set aside unlawful contracts awarded by the Mpumalanga Department of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The SIU revealed serious breaches of procurement regulations, including the bypassing of bid committees, deviations from established transversal contracts, and the appointment of a supplier that lacked proper accreditation and a valid SAHPRA licence.
The Tribunal also ruled against officials from the Mpumalanga Department of Health, citing multiple irregularities. These included issuing premature letters of award, sidestepping required bid evaluation and adjudication processes, and accepting non-compliant bids. Although the Department did not oppose the application, its actions were found to have contributed significantly to the irregular process.
