'I appreciate why China executes corrupt people: Minister Motsoaledi reacts to R2 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says he is shocked at the staggering levels of corruption uncovered by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital — adding that the revelations make him “appreciate why the Chinese execute people” found guilty of corruption.
On Monday, the SIU released its interim report following a sweeping investigation into allegations of looting and maladministration at the embattled hospital. SIU head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, led the briefing alongside Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Gauteng MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“We can reveal today, through the SIU investigation, that evidence has revealed a number of maldistribution and other public procurement irregularities. This indeed will be described as a devastating plunder of the public funds, which we found in our probe. The investigation has uncovered, up to date, three coordinated syndicates responsible for the loss of over R2 billion,” said Mothibi.
He added that when the investigation began in 2022, at the request of the Gauteng premier’s office, the initial estimate of stolen funds was R850 million.
“This staggering sum of money intended for the provision of healthcare at Tembisa Hospital to take care of the most vulnerable was instead ruthlessly siphoned off through a complex web of fraud and corruption, representing an egregious betrayal of the public trust,” said Mothibi.
Reacting to the findings, Motsoaledi paid tribute to whistleblowers such as the late Babita Deokaran, chief director of financial accounting at the Gauteng Department of Health, who was assassinated after raising red flags about corruption at the hospital.
The minister said other whistleblowers had also faced violence, including one government insider known as Mr T. “The people who killed Babita, and who put Mr T (another whistleblower in government) are driving Lamborghinis, the Lamborghini Urus and the other ones you could not pronounce, advocate (Mothibi). They are living a free life. Now, what type of country are we going to become that the public servants who are the real public servants are the ones that are in hiding, and the sgebenzas (thugs) are the ones driving Lamborghinis,” said Motsoaledi.
“Surely, none of us like to live in that type of country. I know what I am going to say, many of you here might criticise me, but I am going to say it anyway. When things like this happen, you start appreciating why the Chinese execute people, to remove them from society. You start appreciating it. I am not saying we can do it, we are a different country, but you start appreciating why they go to that extent. Because they don’t want to live in hiding and let the thugs run amok.”
Motsoaledi, who previously served as home affairs minister, also recalled how Mr T survived two assassination attempts while testifying against corrupt officials. “Mr T” has since gone into hiding, living in constant fear.
Earlier this month, IOL reported that an investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), driven by a report compiled by Babita Deokaran, has implicated President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew.
This was after the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) seized assets belonging to businessman Hangwani Maumela, who had scored at least R415 million via contracts awarded by Tembisa Hospital.
Maumela is Ramaphosa’s nephew from a previous marriage.
However, the president has previously distanced himself from Maumela in Parliament, saying he did not know him.
Maumela and his entities were allegedly exposed in Deokaran’s report when flagged as suspicious procurement deals at the hospital.
Deokaran was assassinated in August 2021, three weeks after submitting a report detailing systemic abuse of the hospital’s supply chain processes.
Her findings prompted a deeper audit by the National Treasury’s Specialised Audit Service Unit, which confirmed Deokaran’s allegations of widespread corruption, revealing that 14 entities controlled by the Maumela syndicate unlawfully benefited from contracts worth R415m, while 18 entities controlled by Rudolph Mazibuko scored R300m through irregular means.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News