Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane cleared ANC chairperson and Minerals and Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as well as Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu of using their political influence in the awarding of a multi-m i l l i o n rand tender in the Eastern Cape. However, a report on the News24 site notes that Mkhwebane has referred her investigation to the Hawks and the Asset Forfeiture Unit to investigate ‘any commission of an offence by all the implicated parties including those who are politically connected’. In 2015, the Daily Dispatch released an exposé in the biggest political scandal to hit the Eastern Cape. The report implicated Mantashe and Zulu's sons in a R631m tender to a company named Siyenza to build 66 000 toilets in the Amathole District Municipality. Mantashe's wife Nolwandle was also linked to the company. The newspaper revealed that proper procurement processes were not followed in the awarding of the contract to the Siyenza Group. Siyenza Group was a company owned by Bongani Mpeluza, who was alleged to have strong links with a group of politically connected individuals.