DA calls for Gauteng health MEC to answer questions about Tembisa hospital corruption

• The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng is calling for the provincial health MEC to answer for the Tembisa scandal
• The South African National Civic Organisation claims that it has information implicating Nomathemba Mokgethi in the saga
• The hospital's CFO Lerato Madyo and Tembisa Hospital Head Ashley Mthunzi were placed on precautionary suspension

GAUTENG - The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng wants Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi to respond to the allegations related to corruption at the Tembisa Hospital. The matter was raised in June.

The political party’s Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom is due to question the MEC around an investigation conducted by News24. The investigation uncovers how whistleblower Babita Deokara noted a dodgy payment from Tembisa Hospital before she was shot and killed.

In the reports compiled by the publication, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) claimed it had evidence that implicated senior members of the African National Congress and Mokgethi in irregular tender processes, EWN reported.

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Bloom requested that Mokgethi comment on the findings and said Sanco’s claims should have been indications of an investigation. He said the evidence indicates that there should have been a forensic investigation into the chief financial officer. The investigation revealed that R500 000 was allegedly used to purchase 200 pairs of girls’ skinny jeans.

The shadow MEC said the investigation should have been conducted a year ago. However, he added that he believes there has been a coverup, and the MEC needs to explain her involvement and the accusations made by Sanco.

Meanwhile, according to The Citizen, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said a criminal and disciplinary investigation is needed to uncover the masterminds behind the scandal. This comes after CFO Lerato Madyo and Tembisa Hospital Head Ashley Mthunzi were placed on precautionary suspension on Friday, 26 August.

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South Africans react to the investigations:

@jmalgas said:

“On the face of it, Tembisa Hospital is used as a private tuckshop by its management.”

@WayneClarence4 added:

“Just another fraudulent tender just another day in South Africa.”

Gauteng government hires independent investigators to probe murdered Babita Deokaran’s corruption allegations

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported an independent forensic investigator will be tasked with finding information related to the allegations brought forward by murdered Department of Health whistleblower Babita Deokaran.

The victim was a critical witness for the Special Investigating Unit and was killed in a drive-by shooting outside the home last year. The matter was being probed by News24, and the investigations revealed that Deokaran escalated more than R800 million in irregular contracts.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura said that his office is finalising the appointment of an investigator to investigate the alleged corruption.

Source: Briefly News