Public Servants Association demands investigation into healthcare corruption
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia
Image: Bongiwe Mchunu/African News Agency (ANA)
THE Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) is demanding immediate and extensive investigations into all public hospitals and government institutions.
The call comes in the wake of acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia's revelations about a staggering R2 billion looting scandal at the Tembisa Hospital, suggesting that this may be just the tip of a much larger, intricate network of corruption.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation, Cachalia expressed outrage over the “brazen shamelessness and cruelty” surrounding the grand larceny at Tembisa Hospital, stating bluntly, “I'm sure it's not the only hospital that has this problem.”
His words reflect a deep-rooted concern for public trust and national security, highlighting how systemic corruption could significantly compromise the welfare of the nation’s citizens.
PSA spokesperson Madimetja Mautla echoed the sentiments, saying that the “problem is not only isolated to Tembisa Hospital.”
He called for a comprehensive examination of the books and supply chains of hospitals across the country to root out corruption entirely.
Citing disturbing examples of malfeasance, Mautla urged that the involvement of multiple syndicates in the alleged procurement fraud at Tembisa must prompt a thorough investigative response across all sectors of public service.
“We want to see decisiveness from the government against anyone who is accused of malfeasance or corruption,” he stressed.
The implications of the Tembisa Hospital scandal are staggering. Reports suggest that over R2 billion may have been misappropriated through corrupt procurement practices facilitated by three identified syndicates.
The Maumela syndicate, associated with businessman Hangwani Maumela, is alleged to have siphoned approximately R816 million, while another linked to Rudolph Mazibuko is implicated in an additional R283 million.
A third, named only as 'Syndicate X', is suspected to have misappropriated around R596 million through fraudulent contracts.
Mautla further warned that the spectre of corruption may extend beyond healthcare, particularly pointing his finger at the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF).
He highlighted that complaints have arisen from within the institution, wherein workers are reportedly coerced into processing multi-million-rand tenders without adherence to proper procedures.
This revelation raises alarming questions about a pervasive culture of corruption that potentially spans various arms of government.
The outcry is also met with support from labour unions, notably the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), which has vehemently denounced the status quo.
Gauteng Provincial Secretary Mzikayise Tshontshi called for urgent action from the provincial health department, arguing that those responsible must “face the might of the law” as he believes this scandal is merely indicative of a broader crisis.
In his warning, Cachalia stressed the critical intersection of public procurement and organised crime as a significant threat to national security.
“This is not ordinary crime,” he cautioned, affirming the immediate need for reform and accountability in governance. As the calls for justice intensify, the spotlight is now on state mechanisms to respond decisively to corruption that may be embedded at the very core of public service.