Minister Dean Macpherson says the expanded investigation into the oxygen plant tender has now implicated three officials rom the Health Department.
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Three officials in the Department of Health will be the subject of investigation in the awarding of the controversial R800 million Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant tender awarded by the Independent Development Trust (IDT).
Responding to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Moshome Patrick Motubatse, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson confirmed that he directed the relevant division within his department to extend the scope of the forensic investigation that was conducted into allegations of serious maladministration, fraud and corruption with regards to the tender.
The extension of the scope of the investigation was done after Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi made the request to look into the role of his officials in the tender that was managed by IDT on behalf of the health department.
“The focus of the extension is to examine the role played by the Department of Health officials in the awards of these tenders. The investigation underway will examine the roles and conduct of all Department of Health officials who participated in the awarding of the tenders,” Macpherson said.
He also said although the officials are not within the jurisdiction of his department, the investigation is ongoing through consultations and the receipt of the necessary go-ahead from Motsoaledi and his support staff.
“At this stage three officials have been identified (implicated). This figure is preliminary and may change as the investigation progresses towards conclusion.”
Macpherson said the nature of the allegations identified to date broadly referred to non-compliance with procurement processes, deficiencies in oversight and accountability as well as weakness in governance and record-keeping practices.
“The anticipated timeline for completion is currently mid-June 2026, subject to the availability of outstanding documentation and completion of remaining interviews.”
The initial investigation, which was conducted by audit firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) into the tender, uncovered irregularities in the IDT's contract awarding practices and several of its officials were implicated.
No officials from the health department had been fingered for wrongdoing because the investigation did not focus on their role in the awarding of the tender.
DA MP Michelle Clarke previously inquired whether Motsoaledi’s department was investigating a specific senior official in connection with the tender.
Motsoaledi had responded at the time that PWC only investigated IDT staff, and Macpherson had informed him that health department Director-General Sandile Buthelezi was interviewed by the investigators, but they did not make any recommendations about him.
He had subsequently asked Macpherson to request PWC to extend their investigation to include all officials from the health department who were involved in the issue.
“Consequence management for health officials will be guided by the recommendations that will be provided in the report, which is awaited from the DPWI,” said Motsaledi at the time.