WeeklySA_AdminGRAFT: Service providers were appointed irregularly which caused the hospital to suffer irregular expenditure…
By Monk Nkomo
Companies and certain officials who profited from the fraudulent transactions that cost the Tembisa Hospital nearly R1 billion in irregular allocation of tenders, will soon be exposed following the Presidential proclamation that was gazetted on Friday giving the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to probe allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption within the Gauteng Department of Health and the hospital.
President Cyril Ramaphosa last month authorized the unit to investigate serious allegations of corruption at the hospital – two years after a high-ranking official with the Department of Health, Babita Deokaran, a whistleblower – was gunned down near her home in Mondeor, Johannesburg after she had flagged suspicious payments worth millions of rands from the hospital.
In a statement released on Friday, the SIU said its investigation, under Proclamation 136 of 2023, would include procurement of or contracting of goods and services by or on behalf of the health department or the hospital as well as the payments made in respect thereof that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable and cost-effective. They will also probe if there had been a violation of guidelines that had been issued by National Treasury or the relevant provincial treasury.
They will also probe the irregular appointment of thirteen service providers.
‘’ The SIU will also investigate unauthorized irregular and wasteful expenditure incurred by the Gauteng Department of Health, Tembisa hospital or the State. They will also probe unlawful or improper conduct by officials or employees of the department or the Tembisa hospital, the applicable suppliers or service providers or any other person or entity.’’
The investigation is expected to flush out the mastermind behind the massive corruption. Six suspects who were arrested and later confessed in the High Court in Johannesburg, to having murdered Deokaran, were recently given jail sentences of between six and 22 years according to the roles they each played in the commitment of the crime. Shortly after they were sentenced, police announced that the convicts had provided the investigating officers with valuable information that could lead to the arrest of the man who ordered the hit.
Although the proclamation was only gazetted last week, the SIU had already made some progress in their investigations regarding the widespread corruption. They had already established possible acts of maladministration, fraud and corruption relating to the supply chain management processes. Fraudulent suppliers and or service providers were conducting business with the hospital and fraudulent payments had been made to certain service providers.
The SIU had also found that there were numerous irregularities in respect of bid documents by successful and unsuccessful bidders at the hospital, which should have led to the disqualification of the some bidders. Service providers were appointed irregularly and this caused the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness and the hospital to suffer irregular expenditure.
A senior official at the Tembisa hospital at the time of the irregular procurement, was responsible for authorising Purchase Orders and Request Forms, which led to the irregular appointment of thirteen service providers.
‘’ In addition to investigating maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud, the SIU will also identify failures and will make systematic recommendations to improve measures to prevent future losses’’, the SIU said.
The investigation into the R1 billion scandal has been welcomed by the ministry of health and civic groups which have called on the authorities to suspend officials involved in the looting of State coffers.
Speaking at a recent event that was held to pay homage to Deokaran, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, warned that companies that had profited from fraudulent transactions that cost the Tembisa hospital almost R1 billion, will soon be exposed after President Ramaphosa gave the SIU the authority to investigate and bring the culprits to book.
‘’ Companies that have profited from ill-gotten gains within the health system, will not escape scrutiny’’, the MEC said.
Although Deokaran’s killers had confessed and were now in jail, her family and all justice loving people in South Africa argued that a plea of not guilty should have been entered so that the truth could be established during the trial about the reasons why Deokaran was murdered, who had ordered the killing and how much the killers were paid.
This could have helped her family and friends to find closure. Instead, questions are now being asked why the six men chose to plead guilty. Are they protecting the mastermind ? This question will probably be answered during the SIU probe.
Published on the 114th Edition
