This, as the country prepares for a nationwide weekend of action against Covid-19 corruption. Several organisations, including the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, have called against corruption and will be amongst those embarking on a campaign this weekend to call Ramaphosa to action. The campaign called #StopCovid19Corruption comes amidst allegations of rampant corruption by politicians and the awarding of multimillion-rand PPE tenders to those close to them.

OFM News recently reported on contracts, with a combined value of R2.7 million, that were awarded to Motheko Projects and Marvel Deeds, owned by ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule's sons.

Tshepiso Magashule is reportedly Motheko Projects' sole director, while his younger brother Thato is the director of Marvel Deeds. It's alleged Magashule's sons benefited from the provincial treasury as a result of their father's close relationship with the MEC for Finance.

The scandal surrounding the awarding of these tenders by the Free State Treasury came just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Khusela Diko, took a leave of absence pending investigations into a R125 million PPE contract - allegedly awarded to Royal Bhaca Projects owned by her husband, Thandisizwe Diko.

Whilst the Free State Treasury Department has since defended the awarding of tenders to Magashule's sons, stating that the companies tendered just like any other company in the province and met the criteria, the news has been received with mixed emotions by social media users and opposition parties calling for investigations.

The planned nationwide weekend of action against Covid-19 corruption, set to take place on August 21-23, is expected to draw attention to how the looting of funds has devastated South African communities and get Ramaphosa to launch investigations outside the ANC.  

OFM News