Mayibuye Medics calls for an expanded probe into Hospital corruption as Tembisa scandal reveals R2 billion theft
The Mayibuye Medics, the healthcare arm of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement, has urgently called on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to widen the scope of its ongoing investigation into criminality in public hospital supply chains.
The movement says what began with revelations at Tembisa Regional Hospital is just the tip of the iceberg, with similar deep-rooted corruption likely rampant in larger regional hospitals across South Africa.
The Chairperson of Mayibuye Medics, Dr Innovent Chauke, told IOL in an interview on Tuesday that this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader, systemic problem.
“The recent SIU findings at Tembisa Regional Hospital expose a far deeper crisis that continues to overwhelm the South African healthcare system.”
The SIU’s interim report, released Monday by head Andy Mothibi, uncovered that approximately R2 billion intended for healthcare services at Tembisa Hospital was siphoned off by three syndicates operating with the collusion of junior officials both at the hospital and in the Gauteng Department of Health.
“The money was meant for the care of our most vulnerable citizens,” Mothibi stated, “but instead, it was ruthlessly siphoned off through a complex web of fraud and corruption, an egregious betrayal of the nation’s trust.”
Chauke stressed that this rampant corruption is enabled by government officials working in cahoots with criminal syndicates.
“The criminality uncovered at Tembisa is only a drop in the ocean of corruption plaguing our public hospitals and healthcare system at large,” he said.
“Hospital boards are often filled with unqualified, deployed comrades whose primary interest lies in enriching themselves rather than serving the health needs of South Africans.
“Their silence amid public health collapse is telling – their mouths are too full of ill-gotten wealth meant to serve vulnerable communities.”
Mayibuye Medics has consequently made two strong demands: that the SIU expand its investigation into criminality within supply chain processes beyond Tembisa to encompass all major regional hospitals across the country.
Secondly, they demanded that an independent audit be conducted to assess the qualifications and suitability of individuals appointed to lead hospital boards.
“Healthcare workers remain unemployed, infrastructure is crumbling, and the disease burden worsens every day,” Chauke added.
“These realities cannot be ignored any longer, especially with corruption of this magnitude, billions of rands stolen in just one hospital.
“Every clinic queue, every broken ambulance, every overworked nurse is a symptom of a deeper disease, a health system built on profit, not people.”
The SIU report revealed at least 15 current and former officials implicated in corruption, money laundering, collusion, and bid rigging related to irregularly appointed service providers at Tembisa Hospital.
Investigators prepared 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials, sending 108 to the Gauteng health department for maladministration.
Apart from rooting out corruption, Mayibuye Medics said it is pushing for a transformative change in South Africa’s approach to healthcare.
“South Africa has, contrary to overwhelming evidence, prioritised a hospital-centric tertiary care model,” Chauke said.
“This not only overwhelms the healthcare system but also neglects early disease detection and complication-free management, both vital to effective care.”
As part of its outreach, Mayibuye Medics stated that it has engaged nearly 2,000 members of informal communities, including taxi ranks, hostels, and shopping centers—with 540 individuals referred to local health facilities for treatment.
“Our vision is a South African health system grounded in human dignity, not medical billing.”
“The fight against corruption in healthcare is the frontline in reclaiming care for the people,” said Chauke.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
IOL Politics