‘I’ll be cleared of any suspicious dealings’, says ANC mayor

The African National Congress’ (ANC) Mzwandile Masina, who is also the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, is once again claiming he has clean hands and has not been involved in any corrupt activity.

Masina said he is confident that a lifestyle audit would vindicate him of any wrongdoing.

“I’m ready for lifestyle audit by my organization the ANC and I’m confident I’ll be cleared of any suspicious dealings. Please come so that we can show ANC still uphold to its value system. We note the public feedback m we remain committed to answer any questions”, the mayor said in a tweet on Tuesday, 4 August 2020.

Civil society has called for the introduction of lifestyle audits for public representatives and officials during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mzwandile Masina, no stranger to controversy

While members of the ruling party have long been accused of being implicated in a number of questionable dealings, there’s a fresh call for accountability in the wake of allegations of corruption in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE)

In 2019, Masina was linked to a suspicious multi-million-rand chemical toilets tender, which he vehemently denied. Instead, he claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign aimed at getting him out of office.

“Whether or not there’s a smear campaign against me, I am not God, it does not start with me and will not end with me. Everybody thinks that the City of Ekurhuleni is the best city at this point, so we will deal with these sideshows as they come, but we will not be shaken”, he said.

ANC: ‘We are outraged and deeply embarrassed’

The mayor’s latest comments come after the ANC released the outcomes of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which took place between 31 July and 2 August 2020, with ‘resolutions’ surrounding the latest corruption allegations.

A number of the party’s members have been fingered in alleged wrongdoing over PPE tenders – most notably Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku and Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko – who have both stepped aside from their respective jobs, pending an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)

The party said it is outraged and ashamed by the allegations and called for those implicated to face the full might of the law.

“These developments cause us collectively to dip our heads in shame and to humble ourselves before the people. We acknowledge the justifiable public outrage caused by the depravity and heartlessness displayed by some elements in government, our government, organisation and the private sector”, the NEC said in a statement.