“We’ll be interested to know on the age of companies. When were they formed, were they formed the previous night? Or they’ve been there before? Or what was the case? What was the case with the PEPs – political exposed people? We would like to know and deal with that,” Mboweni said.
This meant that the government had to make provisions to consider local suppliers who were able to produce and supply the said PPEs. Mboweni said that instructions by the national treasury that were aimed at preventing such exploitation of the procurement processes were not followed by accounting officers such as heads of departments, MECs and chief financial officers.
Mogajane said that the national treasury was considering new control measures to prevent further malfeasance in the handling of public funds and that they were working together with the Auditor General of South Africa. “Because issues of supply and demand are not an issue anymore. You go to any Clicks today, you go to any shop, you will get sanitisers, you will get masks, they are easily available,” Mogajane said.