Defence Minister Thandi Modise on Wednesday said defence force officials responsible for the irregular procurement of a COVID-19 therapeutic drug from Cuba would be fired.
Modise made her first appearance as the minister before Parliament’s defence committee and vowed to get to the bottom of the procurement of the experimental drug without approval.
Modise said it didn’t matter whether the Heberon COVID-19 therapeutic drug was effective if proper procedures were not followed.
“We procured what we shouldn’t have in the first place without following the processes. Whether the drug’s efficacy is good or not is beside the point.”
The committee heard how the state still owes Cuba R180 million for the drug consignment. Almost 1 million vials of the drug were also not approved by the regulator.
Modise said officials would have to be fired for the irregular procurement.
“We are not going to excuse this because we will be setting a bad precedence. So, chairperson, you can be assured that heads will roll on this matter.”
The department will report back to the National Assembly in three weeks.
-EWN
In other news – Black Coffee’s ex-wife Enhle Mbali dragged into DJ Zinhle’s pregnancy
Mzansi got excited after finding out that DJ Zinhle is pregnant and expecting her second child. The official announcement got people excited so much that they started dragging Black Coffee’s ex-wife Enhle Mbali.
Tweeps praised DJ Zinhle saying she does not embarrass the father of her child and does not make electricity demands. Enhle Mbali has made so many demands for her ex-husband DJ Black Coffee. Learn More
