Khusela Diko, who is the spokesperson to President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to take a leave from her government duties.
This was due to the outcome of an investigation into Gauteng health tenders linked to her husband.
Jackson Mthembu, Minister in the Presidency announced on Monday evening that Diko was taking a leave of absence following the allegations that her husband, amaBhaca King Madzikane II Thandisizwe, benefited from a Gauteng government tender of R125 million to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Diko and her husband said that the contract was cancelled and they never receuived a cent.
In a statement, the Presidency said that Diko asked for a leave of absence because it was important that the government was not undermined or adversely affected by the allegations against her, especially when the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic.
Corruption Watch’s head of stakeholder and campaigns – Kavisha Pillay said that it was the right thing to do.
Pillay said:
“We believe that in order to conduct a fair and impartial investigation and test the veracity of the serious allegations levelled against Ms Diko and her husband, it was necessary for Ms Diko to step aside and not participate in any further government business until the probe is finalised.”
Pillay said that Diko’s husband was not supposed to be doing business with government in the first place.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said the tender was one of 90 COVID-19 relief tenders that they were investigating.
