ITUMELENG MAFISA and NOXOLO MIYA
Johannesburg - Former MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services Loyiso Masuku has allegedly been cleared of all allegations of corruption concerning personal protective equipment (PPE) during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Masuku, her husband, former Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku, and former Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko (who is allegedly close to the Masukus) all took a leave of absence in 2020 after it was revealed that late Diko’s husband, Chief Madzikane II, had been awarded a R125 million tender to supply PPE to the department of health.
The report into Mausku’s conduct was one of several items on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting of the municipal council. All reporters were asked to leave council when Masuku’s report was discussed.
Sources told The Star that there was no prima facie evidence linking Masuku to any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, it was still not clear if the expected motion of no confidence against Mayor Mpho Phalatse would go ahead. The DA-led coalition and the opposition bloc were both trying to lobby the EFF to side with it during the vote.
It was also not clear which way the EFF would vote, but some party members were adamant that they would not vote with the ANC until the ANC placed the EFF in power in Ekurhuleni municipality.
The resignation of Mzwandile Masina as a councillor in the Ekurhuleni Municipality was also a turning point in the discussion between the ANC and the EFF.
Masina had been blamed for sabotaging talks between the ANC and the EFF by fielding an ANC candidate to become mayor in Ekurhuleni. That saw the EFF turning against the ANC and voting for the return of the DA in Ekurhuleni.
The Star