Santaco distances itself from irregular R1.7m PPE contract
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has distanced itself from a former senior official linked to an irregular PPE contract with the National Transport Department.
The Special Investigating Unit has ordered Ecko Green Environmental Consulting to pay back the department an amount of R1.7 million within 30 days.
The company was awarded the contract to supply the taxi industry with PPEs during the pandemic.
The special tribunal declared the deal irregular and unlawful, saying the group was not listed on the department's supplier database.
READ: OUTA applauds SIU order for company to pay back PPE money
Its name was given to the department by Santaco's then-CEO, Nkululeko Buthelezi.
The SIU traced a payment of R220,000 by Ecko Green to a company linked to him.
"All endeavours that have been outlined in the SIU's media statement were never undertaken as per the mandate of Santaco," says the taxi council's Rebecca Phala.
"We have already explained these realities to the SIU a lot earlier than before. To this effect, we have no further comment to make on this matter."
