The Special Tribunal has ordered Katleho Mokonyane, daughter of ANC veteran Nomvula Mokonyane, and her business partner Bonelela Mgudlwa to repay more than R14 million linked to irregular COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts.
The ruling follows an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which found that the pair’s company was unlawfully awarded contracts by the Mpumalanga Department of Health in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
The contracts, valued at approximately R14.4 million, included R13.3 million for medical jumpsuits and R1.08 million for surgical masks. According to the SIU, the procurement process violated multiple legal requirements. Only one company submitted a bid, mandatory bid committees were bypassed, and no competitive process was followed.
Investigators also found that the company was not licensed by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to supply medical equipment, and that a conflict of interest was not disclosed.
In its judgment, the Tribunal declared the contracts “invalid and unconstitutional from the outset,” concluding that the conduct of Mokonyane and Mgudlwa was fraudulent and dishonest. The pair has been ordered to repay the full amount received and cover legal costs.
In their defence, Mokonyane and Mgudlwa argued that the goods were delivered and used, that SAHPRA licensing was not required, and that any non-disclosure did not influence the outcome. The Tribunal rejected these arguments.
The case adds to ongoing scrutiny of pandemic-era procurement, where emergency conditions often led to weakened oversight. It also raises broader concerns about political connections and access to state contracts, particularly during times of national crisis.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
