The Democratic Alliance DA has called for investigations into two companies that are allegedly linked to Deputy President Paul Mashatiles sons and their business partners.
The two companies, Ngwato and Manzi Group NMG and Modipadi Nokaneng, reportedly won a R49 million contract for fire suppression and detection maintenance in Gauteng public hospitals in November 2022.
The Gauteng departments of infrastructure and health reportedly advertised and awarded the tenders.
According to News24 , Mashatiles son Thabiso Mashatile and Thabisos half-brother Tinyiko Mvelase are linked to the companies, which have been paid R36.4 million so far. The Gauteng government reportedly still owes them R12.6 million.
DA urges investigationIn a statement on Wednesday 30 July, DA member of provincial legislature MPL Jack Bloom claimed NMG and Modipadi Nokaneng had failed to prevent the recent fire at Tembisa Hospital.
It is suspicious that these two companies apparently shared staff, resources and office space despite being separate entities, Bloom added.
It is also unclear what they did to be paid R36.4 million, and why they are owed R12.6 million for other work according to official figures.
NMG and Modipadi Nokaneng also allegedly failed to pay R219,000 to 12 retrenched workers.
I am awaiting answers to official questions to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development about the payments to these companies, Bloom said.
We need to know why a large amount of money has been paid to companies for fire prevention, but most hospitals are still not compliant with fire safety standards, and the Tembisa Hospital suffered two fires this year.