28 January 2021
TO: Manemolla David Makhura PREMIER OF GAUTENG
ATTENTION: DAVID MAKHURA
“BY E-MAIL”
Dear Premier Makhura,
RE: GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CLEANING OF SCHOOLS SCANDAL.
1. Solidarity is a registered South African trade union in good standing with more than 200 000 members
2. Several of our members are educators, working for schools that fall under the Gauteng Department of Education
3. Several of our members are parents who have children in public schools in Gauteng that fall under the Gauteng Department of Education
4. Solidarity is absolutely astounded by reports that the Gauteng Department of Education spent R431 274 959 on disinfecting schools
5. A report on Daily Maverick indicated that the Gauteng Department of Education spent these inordinate amounts on schools between June and August 2020.
The report further indicates that these amounts are massively inflated and were paid to vendors from the central supplier database under the emergency procurement protocols. Some of these vendors were not even specialised in cleaning services, yet they were paid massively inflated prices.
6. What is even more worrying is that the report indicates that the MEC for Education – Mr. Panyaza Lesufi – was completely taken aback by the funds spent by his department. Mr. Lesufi repeatedly states that he had absolutely no idea of the scale of funds being spent.
7. This is completely unacceptable, as the MEC for Education Mr. Lesufi is ultimately responsible for the actions of his department. His claimed lack of knowledge can only be attributed to one of two explanations – either he is complicit or incompetent.
8. In October 2019 Mr. Lesufi revealed in the provincial legislature that his department had irregular expenditure of more than R1 billion. It thus serves as
a worrying precedent that the Gauteng Department of Education under Mr.
Lesufi finds itself once again embroiled in a scandal related to wasteful and irregular expenditure.
9. Given the reality of corruption in procurement of PPE-tenders using the same emergency procurement protocols from several senior ranking government officials – Mr. Lesufi’s complicity in procuring these cleaning services can not be discounted without a thorough investigation.
10. These cleaning services were procured between June and August 2020. It is unfathomable that Mr. Lesufi did not take any pains to ensure his departments spending during the pandemic was above board. Especially given the fact that the PPE-corruption dominated every public discourse since September 2020.
11. It is in the shadow of the corruption in procurement of PPE that the ANC has decided to implement stringent measures when officials become embroiled in scandals related to possible corruption.
12. In the January 8 Statement issued by the ANC, President Ramaphosa expressly states:
We reiterate, as resolved by the National Conference, that every member accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices should account to the Integrity Commission immediately or face disciplinary processes. Members who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down while
they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures, will be summarily suspended.
13. Given the trust-deficit that exists between the ANC and the general public on the matter of corruption – your handling of this scandal will show South Africa how serious the ANC in Gauteng takes the fight against corruption.
14. It is quite obvious that Mr. Lesufi’s department has likely been involved in corrupt practices between June and August 2020. Given the ANC’s renewed commitment to eradicating corruption – Mr. Lesufi should voluntarily step down pending a full investigation and disciplinary process.
15. Since Mr. Lesufi has not indicated that he is voluntarily stepping down – we call on you Premier Makhura to suspend Mr. Lesufi pending a full investigation and disciplinary process.
Regards,
___________________________
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SOLIDARITY
