The Special Tribunal of South Africa says Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s lawyers have requested three days in which to familiarise themselves with a case related to alleged corruption in the awarding of contracts for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the province.

The provincial Health Department’s former chief financial officer Kabelo Lehloenya wants Makhura and other public officials to contribute to any amount she may be found liable for following her approval of the R2 billion contracts.

Lehloenya’s trial which was scheduled to begin on Monday could not go ahead after he filed a third-party notice.

An affidavit made by Lehloenya implicated Makhura for his alleged involvement in the appointment of six companies to supply PPEs.

Gauteng has been marred by a number of PPE corruption scandals with the latest being over R430 million spent to disinfect and deep-clean schools in the province.

The Special Tribunal was set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa in terms of the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and Special Tribunals act 74 of 1996.

The function of the tribunal is to institute civil recovery proceedings deriving from the SIU cases.

Special Tribunal in action