Former health department messenger jailed for R23m PPE tender fraud: A former provincial health department messenger who forged a letter to procure R23.7m worth of personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 state of disaster has been sentenced to…
Ayanda Matinise, 37, took advantage of his proximity to the office of then Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and
disaster regulations which permitted deviation from ordinary procurement procedures, said regional National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson September 2020 under the pretence that the provincial health department was committed to procuring PPE, including surgical masks. The company submitted a declaration of interest and a quotation of R23.7m to Matinise.
“He pleaded not guilty, downplaying his role to that of a mere messenger, and attempted to implicate the officials who blew the whistle as having been involved in large-scale corruption. However, under cross-examination, Matinise contradicted himself and changed his version at least three times. The court rejected his defence.”
Eastern Cape director of public prosecutions Barry Madolo commended the prosecuting team, SIU investigators and Hawks for securing the conviction and sentence of a person who used the pandemic to illegally enrich himself.
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