Khusela Diko facing disciplinary hearing after ‘failure to disclose financial interests’

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko failed to disclose financial interests during her tenure in the presidency and now faces an internal disciplinary hearing, the presidency confirmed on Sunday.

Diko went on special leave in July after concerns about the awarding of Gauteng health department PPE contracts to a company linked to her husband. The contracts are currently still under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.

In a statement, minister in the presidency Jackson Mthembu said though there was no evidence against her so far about the awarding of the contracts, the SIU had nevertheless flagged Diko’s non-disclosure of financial interests.

“During its investigation, the SIU did however identify a concern regarding Ms Diko’s duty to disclose all her financial interests,” Mthembu said.

“On the basis of a referral from the SIU on her failure to disclose her financial interests, the presidency has decided to initiate an internal disciplinary process against Ms Diko.”

The presidency did not clarify which financial interests were involved.

The SIU would continue to investigate allegations of corruption relating to two Gauteng health department contracts.

To date, it had “not obtained any evidence pointing to Ms Diko’s involvement in the awarding of” the contracts, said the presidency statement.

It was still unclear whether Diko would remain on special leave or be formally suspended pending the disciplinary process.

The relevant processes prescribed in the Public Service Regulations and related documents will be triggered and handled by the acting director-general of the presidency, including consideration of whether Diko remains on special leave or is formally suspended pending the disciplinary process.

Source: TimesLIVE