Professor Mkhululi Lukhele has been placed on precautionary suspension following a report from the Special Investigating Unit.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has suspended Professor Mkhululi Lukhele, Head of the Department (HoD) of Health. He is alleged to have failed to properly monitor issued Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders.
A statement from the Premier’s Office explains that the professor has been put under precautionary suspension with immediate effect on the basis of recommendations from the Special Investigating Unit following the update report presented to him on 22 September.
The Special Investigating Unit found that the Lukhele failed to exercise his responsibility in the awarding of contracts to certain companies for the procurement of goods and services in relation to the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The actions or omission by the HoD may have resulted in the department incurring the fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” reads the statement, which further explains that Lukhele will remain in precautionary suspension pending the completion of the investigations by the SIU and disciplinary proceedings for misconduct.
