Premier Lesufi suspends Gauteng Health head amid Tembisa Hospital corruption fallout
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has suspended Lesiba Arnold Malotana, the head of Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness, with immediate effect amid mounting pressure over ongoing investigations into corruption and irregular tenders at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
Lesufi announced the move on Tuesday, saying it forms part of the provincial government’s renewed commitment to accountability and ethical leadership.
Dr Darion Barclay, who currently leads the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), has been appointed as acting head of the Health Department to ensure “stability and continuity” in the province’s most critical portfolio.
“Dr Barclay’s appointment highlights the importance of prioritising seamless service delivery,” said Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Gauteng Provincial Government.
“The Gauteng provincial government reaffirms its full support for the work of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other law enforcement agencies. We remain steadfast in our commitment to root out maladministration and to uphold the highest standards of accountability and ethical leadership,” said Mhlanga.
The suspension comes as agencies, including the SIU, intensify probes into alleged large-scale looting at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, where millions of rand were siphoned through irregular contracts and ghost suppliers.
The Tembisa Hospital scandal
IOL has reported extensively on the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital saga, which first came to light after the assassination of whistleblower Babita Deokaran in August 2021. Deokaran, a senior Gauteng Health official, had flagged a suspicious pattern of payments totalling hundreds of millions of rand made to obscure companies linked to hospital procurement.
The SIU later confirmed that its investigations uncovered fraudulent tenders valued at over R2 billion, many involving companies that supplied overpriced goods such as latex gloves, medical equipment, and even mundane items like skinny jeans and armchairs.
Earlier reports also revealed that the hospital’s then-CEO, Ashley Mthunzi, who passed away last year, and chief financial officer, Lerato Madyo, were implicated in the irregular procurement of goods and services.
While the provincial government has maintained that it supports the SIU’s work, the ongoing revelations have placed the Gauteng Health Department under heavy scrutiny.
Lesufi’s accountability drive
In his statement, Lesufi said the suspension of Malotana is part of broader efforts to “restore confidence in public institutions” and ensure that senior officials are held accountable.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to root out maladministration and to uphold the highest standards of accountability and ethical leadership,” the Premier’s Office said.
Lesufi’s office added that on Thursday, the signed performance agreements of all Members of the Executive Council (MECs) will be made public — a move intended to promote transparency in governance.
The SIU is expected to brief the provincial executive later this month on progress made in recovering funds lost through irregular and fraudulent contracts at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital and other provincial health facilities.
As the scandal continues to unfold, questions remain about whether the looting at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital represents only a fraction of the broader rot within Gauteng’s public healthcare system — and whether further senior officials could soon face suspension or prosecution.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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