FF Plus lodges complaint with PP and HRC against Lesufi

6 April 2021

The FF Plus will approach both the Public Protector (PP) and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to investigate the statements about tenders allegedly made by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi.

The party already has an investigation underway by the PP into the Department of Education's tenders for the decontamination and "deep cleaning" of public schools last year and will now also submit the latest revelations about Lesufi to the PP in light of the aforementioned suspicious tenders.

It, furthermore, appears that the statements allegedly made by Lesufi during a meeting with different black role players were divisive as they alluded to prejudice against certain racial groups in favour of others.

These are the grounds for lodging the complaint with the HRC.

Public tenders must not be used to benefit only certain groups and must be dealt with in terms of the existing legal norms.

The statements that Lesufi reportedly made, according to a City Press news report, indicate that he wants to help "his people" by awarding them tenders.

If these statements are found to be true, Lesufi must be removed from his office. The FF Plus will keep a close eye on the investigations and will put pressure on Premier David Makhura to dismiss Lesufi.

Issued by Anton Alberts, FF Plus national chairperson and MPL: Gauteng, 6 April 2021