Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane says she has received about 450 complaints in the last four months. The complaints are related to the R350 special social grant and a number of government tenders. Courtesy #DStv403
JOHANNESBURG - The Public Protector's office is investigating alleged corruption related to COVID-19.
Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane said she has received about 450 complaints in the last four months.
The complaints are related to the R350 special social grant and a number of government tenders.
The tenders include those for the Beitbridge Border Post, acquisition of PPE in KZN, a quarantine site in Mpumalanga and a Gauteng ICT deal.
Various government officials have been implicated in COVID-19 related fraud.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit to probe the allegations.
READ: COVID-19 corruption will be dealt with decisively: Ramaphosa
"We have been consistent in our call on the bureaucracy to exercise prudence when it comes to spending public funds on COVID-19 related goods and services," Mkhwebane said.
"We have stressed that deviation from normal procurement processes is not a declaration of an open season to pillage. We are looking at a few other matters in which we may launch own-initiative investigations.”
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