Parly grills defence dept over illegal importation of Interferon that cost R260m The first consignment of the drug landed in South Africa in April, together with Cuban medical personnel. FILE: Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Picture: GCIS.
47 days ago
CAPE TOWN - The Department of Defence has been grilled in Parliament over its illegal importation from Cuba of nearly a million vials of anti-viral drug, Interferon, at a cost of R260 million.
The first consignment of the drug landed in South Africa last year, together with Cuban medical personnel.
The drug is unregistered for use in South Africa and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) only applied to the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for authorisation for its bulk use months later when it was denied.
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Mapisa-Nqakula said she had launched an independent probe to get to the bottom of the issue.
“I cannot, chair because things have been done in the manner in which they have been done, which I do not agree with be dishonest and distance myself, saying I did not know that there was interferon in the country,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.
“I was told that there is interferon and that it has been offered by the Cubans.”
Mapisa-Nqakula said when she became aware of interferon intended for SANDF members, she was puzzled by the “quantity”, which was well above the total number of soldiers in the country.
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