On 27 October 2020, the Council of the City of Johannesburg held its 43rd Extra-Ordinary Council meeting, wherein the final report of the Phase 1 Internal Audit of COVID-19 related procurement was presented.
The report is a result of an investigation initiated by the City on COVID-19 related procurement, specifically for the period 15 March – 31 March 2020.
“In line with our commitment to a responsive, transparent and corruption-free government; we have directed the City Manager to act swiftly and decisively against those found in the wrong in line with the recommendations of the report and Council” said Mayor Makhubo.
Speaking in Council Meeting, Mayor Makhubo said Phase 1 of the Special Audit Review Report had noted budget management and procurement processes were not carried out in accordance with relevant circulars and laws applicable to supply chain and procurement.
The report also highlights that there was R240 million spent on Covid-19 related procurement and not the R600 million that has been wildly bandied about by the opposition parties and reported by the media.
The Council meeting resolved that in the next Council sitting, the City Manager, as an Accounting Officer, should provide Phase 2 of the Report, which will give more details on all COVID-19-related procurement conducted by the City.
“The people of Johannesburg demand accountability from all of us. Consequence management on this matter should be implemented urgently. We are pleased that council perused and deliberated extensively on the report, and as a united front also made recommendations to the report,” concluded Mayor Makhubo.
