South Africa: Gauteng Premier Suspends Head of Department of Health

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David Makhura, the Gauteng Premier has placed the Head of the Department (HOD) of Health, Professor Mkhululi Lukhele under precautionary suspension with immediate effect.

The Special Investigating Unit discovered that the Head of Department 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 Premier is therefore taking actions based on the recommendations of the Special Investigating Unit after the update report presented to him on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.

The actions, or omission by the HOD may have resulted in the department incurring fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

It was gathered that Professor Lukhele will remain in precautionary suspension pending the completion of the investigations by the SIU and disciplinary proceedings for misconduct.