Bandile Masuku

Bandile Masuku was born in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto in the now-dissolved Transvaal Province. He grew up in Soweto and was expelled from school. While he was attending the Sekano-Ntoane Secondary School, Masuku became involved with youth activism. He joined the Congress of South African Students (Cosas). He had to repeat matric in 1992, after not succeeding in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Huisman |first1=Biénne |title=Face to face with Dr Bandile Masuku |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-07-09-face-to-face-with-dr-bandile-masuku/ |accessdate=4 April 2020 |newspaper=The Daily Maverick |date=9 July 2019}}

In 1994, he began studying at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University for a BSc. He registered for a degree in medicine in 1998 and fulfilled the degree in 2004 after he had to repeat a year. He was President of the university's SRC (Student Representative Council). He was elected to the national executive committee of the South African Students Congress in 2002. He served as SASCO National President elected at Fort Hare University in 2003. are

Masuku was appointed spokesperson of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in 2013.

Masuku had worked at multiple hospitals, including the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and the Pholosong Hospital. He specialised in obstetrics and gynaecology. Prior to his appointment to the Gauteng provincial government, he served as the head of clinical unit of the obstetrics and gynaecology at the Thelle Mohoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus on the East Rand of Gauteng.

In 2019, Masuku met up with Assistant Director of the Gauteng Medical Supply Depot, Neels Beukes to establish how the depot operates. He concluded it was working in 100% condition

Masuku took office as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on 22 May 2019. Premier David Makhura appointed him to the post of Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health on 29 May. He was sworn into office on 30 May.{{cite news |last1=Sicetsha |first1=Andile |title=Premier David Makhura unveils Gauteng’s new Cabinet |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/david-makhura-gauteng-cabinet-announced/ |accessdate=4 April 2020 |newspaper=The South African |date=29 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Lindeque |first1=Mia |title= Gauteng Premier Makhura names his new Cabinet |url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/29/gauteng-premier-makhura-names-his-new-cabinet |accessdate=4 April 2020 |newspaper=EWN |date=29 May 2019 |location=Johannesburg}}{{cite news |last1=Mkhonza |first1=Thembelihle |title=Makhura tells new Gauteng MECs to hit the ground running |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/makhura-tells-new-gauteng-mecs-to-hit-the-ground-running-24463268 |accessdate=4 April 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=4 April 2020 |location=Johannesburg}}

{{See also|COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa#Corruption and profit gouging}}

On 19 July 2020, the Sunday Independent reported that between 30 March and 1 April 2020, the Gauteng Health Department awarded two contracts of up to R78 million and R47 million to Royal Bhaca Projects (RB), headed by disputed Amabhaca King Madzikane II Thandisizwe Diko, to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to the department.{{cite news |last1=Rampedi |first1=Piet Mahasa |title=Husband of presidency spokesperson's R125m PPE tender bonanza |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/husband-of-presidency-spokespersons-r125m-ppe-tender-bonanza-51174649 |accessdate=30 July 2020 |agency=IOL |date=19 July 2020 |location=Johannesburg}} These contracts were part of R2,2 billion tenders awarded by the provincial health department since March 2020. Diko is married to the presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko. On 26 July, the publication alleged that the Masukus and Dikos have a close relationship.{{cite news |last1=Rampedi |first1=Piet |title=Under the spotlight: The MEC’s wife, Diko and a R125m PPE contract |url=https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/under-the-spotlight-the-mecs-wife-diko-and-a-r125m-ppe-contract-06eb0951-4b22-402e-9110-cdd247e29102 |accessdate=30 July 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=26 July 2020 |location=Johannesburg}}

Masuku has denied any involvement in the awarding of the tenders.{{cite news |last1=Grobler |first1=Riaan |title=Gauteng Health MEC denies involvement in PPE procurement corruption |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/gauteng-health-mec-denies-involvement-in-ppe-procurement-corruption-20200727 |accessdate=30 July 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=27 July 2020}} Diko has acknowledged that while his company has been awarded the tenders, it has not received any payment. His wife, Khusela, has taken a leave of absence.{{cite news |last1=Maphanga |first1=Canny |title=President's spokesperson Khusela Diko takes leave of absence in face of PPE procurement scandal |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/presidents-spokesperson-khusela-diko-takes-leave-of-absence-in-face-of-ppe-procurement-scandal-20200727 |accessdate=30 July 2020 |agency=News24 |date=27 July 2020}} On 29 July, the ANC PEC resolved that Masuku and his wife should temporarily step aside while the ANC's Integrity Committee investigates the allegations.{{cite news |last1=Madia |first1=Tshidi |title=JUST IN l Health MEC Bandile Masuku and wife Loyiso asked to 'step aside' amid corruption probe |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/just-in-health-mec-bandile-masuku-and-wife-loyiso-asked-to-step-aside-amid-corruption-probe-20200730 |accessdate=30 July 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=30 July 2020}} Makhura announced on 30 July that he had placed Masuku on leave for the next two to four weeks, pending the investigation, and named Jacob Mamabolo as his acting successor.{{cite news |last1=Madia |first1=Tshidi |title=Covid-19 tender saga: Jacob Mamabolo acting Health MEC as Bandile Masuku placed on special leave |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/covid-19-tender-saga-jacob-mamabolo-acting-health-mec-as-bandile-masuku-placed-on-special-leave-20200730 |accessdate=30 July 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=30 July 2020}} On 9 October 2020, Makhura removed him from the Executive Council, after it was found that he failed to execute his functions as set out by the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).{{cite news |title=Makhura removes Masuku as Gauteng’s Health MEC |url=https://ewn.co.za/2020/10/09/makhura-removes-bandile-masuku-as-gauteng-s-health-mec |accessdate=9 October 2020 |agency=EWN}}[https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/2368489/makhura-removes-masuku-as-gauteng-health-mec-on-siu-recommendation/ Makhura removes Masuku as Gauteng health MEC on SIU recommendation]

Masuku is married to Loyiso, an ANC municipal councillor in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality and the municipality's MMC for Corporate and Shared Services.{{cite news |last1=Deklerk |first1=Aphiwe |title=They gave Joburg to the ANC, and they've just been instantly rewarded |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-12-07-they-gave-joburg-to-the-anc-and-theyve-just-been-instantly-rewarded/ |accessdate=4 April 2020 |newspaper=TimesLIVE |date=7 December 2019 |quote=Loyiso Masuku will take charge of corporate and shared services. She is the wife of Gauteng health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku.}} They have three sons and reside in Alberton, Gauteng.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.pa.org.za/person/bandile-edgar-wallace-masuku/ Bandile Edgar Wallace Masuku – People's Assembly]

{{Gauteng MPLs|state=collapsed}}

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{{succession box

| title = Gauteng MEC for Health

| years = 2019–2020

| before = Gwen Ramokgopa

| after = Nomathemba Mokgethi

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:People from Gauteng

Category:People from Alberton, Gauteng

Category:Provincial political office-holders in South Africa