The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Mpumalanga have opened a case against the province’s Education MEC, Cathy Dlamini, accusing her of interfering with the tendering process in the education department.
Collen Sedibe, the EFF leader in Mpumalanga, alleges that Dlamini removed qualified companies from the school nutrition programme and building maintenance tenders. He claims that this interference disrupted the proper procedures, with the MEC overstepping her authority. “The MEC has interfered with the tendering process, removing qualified companies. We have gathered all the relevant records, documents, and reports from the evaluation committees as evidence. We also have witnesses who are willing to testify,” said Sedibe.
Sedibe emphasized that such actions are unacceptable, as politicians are only meant to provide political directives, while the responsibility for tendering and procurement processes falls to administrative officials. “Those duties the MEC interfered with are for administrators, not even heads of departments. There are officials specifically hired to handle supply chain management,” he added.
The EFF, which has made the fight against corruption one of its core principles, has vowed to continue pursuing accountability at all levels of government. Sedibe reiterated the party’s stance: “We are committed to fighting corruption wherever it arises. We will not tolerate any attempts to undermine a government that should be open, transparent, and accountable to the people. Whether you are an MEC, HOD, or Mayor, if you are involved in corruption, we will not hesitate to take legal action.”
In response to the allegations, MEC Dlamini has denied any wrongdoing. She maintains that the charges are linked to her resistance against state capture, accusing opposition party leaders of using their influence to benefit business interests. “These allegations stem from my unwavering stance against the exploitation of government processes for personal gain. I will not allow opposition leaders to control government operations for their own benefit outside the legal framework,” Dlamini stated, asserting her commitment to fighting corruption.
The Hawks, South Africa’s specialized law enforcement agency, have confirmed that the case has been handed over to them for investigation. Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that a formal case had been opened and is now under investigation.
