By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Hawks in Gauteng descended on Tembisa Hospital on Tuesday morning to conduct a search-and-seizure operation.
Authorities are investigating corruption alleged in the irregular contracts awarded by hospital supply chain management to 217 service providers.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale says the tenders amount to R850 million.
“The search and seizure operation emanated from an inquiry into allegations of fraud and corruption at the Tembisa Tertiary Hospital. It is alleged that there exist untoward practices in relation to contracts below R 500 000 which have been issued purchase orders between 2016 and 2022.
“These are reported to have been conducted or allocated in an unlawful and illegal manner and this has resulted in the hospital being prejudiced over R850 million.”
“In some of the contracts, hospital employees are said to have received gratification. The investigation team is to seize all relevant materials including documents, electronic gadgets are deemed to be important in the progress of the investigation.”
Whistleblower Babita Deokaran flagged irregular tenders to the tune of more than R850 million before she was assassinated outside her home in August 2021.
The Tembisa Hospital raid comes several months after hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi was placed on precautionary suspension, alongside Gauteng Health CFO Lerato Madyo.
Both are integral links in the chain.
The former was at the helm of the hospital when a spending surge, first detected by Deokaran, saw expenditure outstrip larger hospitals in the province’s network.
The latter knew what Deokaran had found – because she told her – and failed to investigate further.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirms that there were indeed fraudulent transactions and irregular payments made to companies at the Tembisa hospital.
Lesufi is giving an update on investigative reports on Anglo Ashanti, Tembisa Hospital, Driving Licence Testing Centres among others.
He has named five key individuals found benefited from dubious contracts out of Tembisa Hospital, according to the SIU’s preliminary report.
The first person named by the premier was Stefan Govindraju, Hangwani Morgan Maumela, Simphiwe Mazibuko and the last individual in the crosshairs of the SIU is ANC Ekurhuleni Treasurer General Sello Sekhokho.