By Mandla Khoza
Mbombela - The Mpumalanga Health Department has joined forces with the Integrity Management Unit to investigate a multi-million Rand contract given to a company in charge of the province's Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme.
This follows an investigation by Corruption Watch that found that Mkhago Health Care Services was given a one-year contract to conduct 260 000 circumcisions at a cost of R700 per person, or R182 million. The contract was not put out to tender.
"We have joined forces with the Integrity Management Unit in the Office of the Premier to strengthen and fast-track the investigation," said provincial health spokesman Ronnie Masilela.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has also instructed the provincial health department to report to him on how the contract was awarded.
Masilela admitted that the department had promised to conclude its investigation into the matter by November 30, 2013.
"The matter has since proven to be a little complex and required an extension of time to continue with other parts of the investigation.
"It is against this background that we request to comment no further on this very matter until the investigations are concluded, which we believe will be soon," he said.
He added that the contract remained suspended.
He stressed that the investigation did not affect the VMMC programme in the province.
He said the department had five other service providers conducting circumcisions.
All the other service providers are NGOs that are sponsored to carry out the circumcisions. – SAnews.gov.za
