The acting PP, Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka, on Friday released several investigative reports into alleged irregularities by departments and politicians. She says her office could not find any evidence of alleged influence against Saul or the MEC, who was accused of influencing a multimillion-rand tender to be awarded to two of his allies.

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Gcaleka has, however, revealed that the procuring and awarding of the tender to the service provider by the department was not in accordance with the relevant laws and prescripts regulating the procurement of goods and services.

“The conduct of the department in this regard has been improper and constitutes maladministration. The appropriate remedial action we are taking in this regard is that within 60 days of receipt of this report, the provincial MEC for Health must take appropriate action in terms of section 27 1A of the Public Service Act and read with paragraph 18.1 chapter 7 and paragraph 2.7.2 of the Senior Management Services Handbook 2003 Act, about the failure to comply with the requirement of sections 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and with the policy regulating the procurement of goods and services and incurring associated expenditure when the department awarded the contract to the service provider,” she adds.

She adds that the department must, among other things, take appropriate action in terms of section 38.8 of the PFMA against any official who contravenes section 45 of the PFMA and take appropriate action to ensure that all officials involved in the supply chain management are properly trained in the provisions of the PFMA, Treasury regulations and the National Treasury supply chain management prescripts. Both steps must be actioned within 90 days of receipt of the report.

In September 2020, Saul released a statement distancing himself from any Covid-19 corruption cases, stating that there is seemingly an attempt to taint his reputation and said the allegations against him were part of a resistance campaign directed at him, because of his fight against corruption and wrongdoing in the province.

One tender each - of the Health Department and the SAPS - was reportedly handed to the wife of Saul’s special adviser and businessman Somandla Sibisi, who is reported to be Saul’s friend. Saul, however, denied these allegations, stating that SAPS procurement was a national competency and had nothing to do with him; nor is he friends with the businessman in question.

“I do not have any role in the management of the SAPS and how they issue tenders, as the SAPS is a national competency.”

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