Civil society calls for lifestyle audits during Covid-19
A group of civil society organisations has called for the introduction of lifestyle audits for public representatives and officials during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The group includes the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Section27 and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation spokesperson Neeshan Balton says the audits will help monitor any "signs of personal gain".
At least 102 companies are being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in connection with allegations of Covid-19 tender corruption in Gauteng.
Two senior African National Congress (ANC) members in Gauteng, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko and Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku, have been implicated in what is being described as a dodgy personal protective equipment (PPE) tender worth R125 million.
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Both have been placed on precautionary suspension.
Balton says it is always concerning when government officials are implicated in wrongdoing.
“These are people who are unashamed about stealing money meant for protective gear for nurses and doctors, for food parcels for the poor, for workers who find themselves unemployed, for hospitals which require beds and ventilators, for schools that need to ensure that pupils still learn, and for communities in desperate need of services.
“Covid-19 corruption makes us sick!”