The findings of the Special Investigating Unit’s probe into the procurement of motorcycle ambulances by the Eastern Cape government are “shocking, defamatory, condescending, unlawful and unconstitutional”.
A Daily Dispatch report says this is according to a leaked presentation delivered by axed Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba to the ANC when the party grilled her about her alleged involvement in the aborted project last week.
Just hours before she was axed, Gomba told party bosses that the SIU’S findings were merely a “witch-hunt”. She said the findings were part of a “lynching exercise in the court of public opinion”.
Gomba’s legal team is preparing court papers for an application to have the SIU report reviewed. It found her to be in the wrong and recommended that criminal prosecution be instituted against her and former HOD Thobile Mbengashe. The review application is expected to be heard in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria), on a date yet to be confirmed, after the SIU last week refused Gomba’s application to have the matter heard in East London.
The SIU had found that Gomba “may be guilty” of three transgressions relating to the procurement. It alleges that Gomba influenced a December 2019 meeting about the provincial Health Department entering into a procurement deal with a King William’s Town company. The report alleges Gomba “benefited” from the deal, which she denies.
In her presentation, Gomba confirmed her attendance at the meeting, but denied influencing anyone into awarding the contract to the company, saying it would have been “foolhardy of anyone, more especially a politician, to do so”.
[link url="https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2021-02-23-sius-scooter-report-defamatory-unlawful-gomba/"]Full Daily Dispatch report (Restricted access)[/link]
See also MedicalBrief archives:
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/siu-tribunal-health-mec-must-answer-over-scooter-saga/"]SIU Tribunal: Health MEC must answer over scooter saga[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/ec-controversy-over-motorbike-ambulances-and-clinics/"]EC controversy over motorbike ambulances and clinics[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/ramaphosa-scrambles-to-staunch-anger-over-medical-relief-corruption/"]Ramaphosa scrambles to staunch anger over medical relief corruption[/link]