By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Health Department has suspended six officials implicated in the forensic investigation report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) of fraud, corruption, and maladministration at the hospital.
The report, publicised in December 2022, found fraudulent suppliers were irregularly appointed at the hospital.
This involved possible fraud and corruption in the supply chain process. The SIU identified payments of more than R1 billion to “syndicates” of business people with fake companies overcharging for products.
The SIU handed over a preliminary investigation report to the Gauteng premier in December 2022.
The unit is probing the irregular awarding of tenders to more than 200 service providers by the hospital supply chain management.
In August 2021, whistle-blower Babita Deokaran was assassinated outside her home after she flagged irregular tenders worth more than R850 million.
The CFO at the Department Lerato Madyo, and Tembisa Hospital CEO, Ashley Mthunzi have since been on precautionary suspension.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says out of the nine employees sighted in the SIU report, three have since resigned.
“The three officials who left are the deputy director for supply chain, who has since retired, a chief physiotherapist who resigned, and a sessional medical officer who stopped working.
“The department will further consider its options in relation to those that have already terminated their services. Disciplinary processes involving the suspended department’s CFO and Tembisa Hospital CEO are underway,” he added
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said they are satisfied with the action taken by the Gauteng Department of Health.
“Based on the findings of the report, the SIU has since motivated for a proclamation to further investigate supply chain management at the Tembisa Hospital.
“Once the proclamation is signed and gazetted, and the SIU investigation findings points to undue benefit, the SIU will pursue officials who resign in the face of an investigation or disciplinary action by freezing their pension benefits and institute civil litigation to recover financial losses suffered by state institutions,” Kganyago said.
Kganyago added that in addition to investigating corruption, maladministration and malpractice, it will also identify systematic failures, and make recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses.
“The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name, to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration.
“In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” he said.