The Public Protector’s office is investigating alleged corruption related to COVID-19.

Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane said she has received about 450 complaints in the last four months. The complaints are related to the R350 special social grant and a number of government tenders.

The tenders include those for the Beitbridge Border Post, acquisition of PPE in KZN, a quarantine site in Mpumalanga and a Gauteng ICT deal.

Various government officials have been implicated in COVID-19 related fraud. President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the Special Investigating Unit to probe the allegations.

“We have been consistent in our call on the bureaucracy to exercise prudence when it comes to spending public funds on COVID-19 related goods and services,” Mkhwebane said.

“We have stressed that deviation from normal procurement processes is not a declaration of an open season to pillage. We are looking at a few other matters in which we may launch own-initiative investigations.”

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Source: Zimbos eXpress