28 January 2021

TO: Manemolla

PREMIER OF

ATTENTION: DAVID MAKHURA

“BY E-MAIL”

Dear 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

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