Minister Motsoaledi and SIU call for protection of whistleblowers as Tembisa Hospital corruption report released

Amid calls for Babita Doekoran to be honoured for her role in uncovering corruption at Tembisa Hospital, the DA in Gauteng has revealed that it will closely monitor the referrals made by the SIU's interim report released on Monday into corruption at the facility.

This includes 116 disciplinary referrals and the four criminal matters that have been sent to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for disciplinary procedures, with 14 referrals currently under investigation.

According to SIU (Special Investigating Unit) head Andy Mothibi, the syndicates involved in Tembisa Hospital corruption siphoned off more than R2 billion through fraudulent tenders and the circumvention of proper tender processes.

The interim report was prompted by whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who flagged irregular tenders at the hospital shortly before her assassination in 2021.

Deokaran was a senior official in the Gauteng Health Department’s finance unit and flagged R850 million in suspicious payments out of Tembisa Hospital in the weeks preceding her assassination.

"This would not have been possible without the help of whistleblowers, including Babita Deokaran. We are on record to ensure measures are taken, and where there is a need, whistleblowers must be protected. The current legislature is narrow and must be reviewed. We must have a wider definition of whistleblowers, and we must take steps to protect whistleblowers," Mothibi said.

On Monday, the DA's shadow MEC for health in Gauteng, Jack Bloom, said the findings had exposed the extent of the corruption through fraudulent supply contracts, along with six smaller networks.

"Most alarming is the revelation that the largest syndicate is tied to Hangwani Morgan Maumela, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew by a previous marriage, who secured contracts worth R816 million. In addition, three companies awarded contracts totaling R13.5 million are linked to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, who is currently on trial for allegedly orchestrating a hit on his ex-girlfriend and is under scrutiny by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry for alleged SAPS corruption," Bloom said.

The DA, which has been vocal over the corruption at the hospital, welcomed the report and its findings with Bloom saying it's positive news that the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has identified assets worth R520 million belonging to Maumela, and secured some of them, including six properties and six luxury vehicles, including four Lamborghinis.

"The Gauteng Health Department needs to take speedy disciplinary action against the 13 identified officials implicated in the 116 SIU referrals. They should not be allowed to resign before completion of the disciplinary process," Bloom said.

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, also welcomed the report, saying he realised that the report's terms of reference needed to be expanded.

"I must say, this report is damning. It confirms our suspicion that this hospital probe needed to be expanded. We are happy that the SIU executed this with diligence and professionalism. To us, corruption is corruption, and they must be hunted regardless of those who are involved, whether in the lower levels or not," he added.

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said people should not be allowed to drive in flashy cars at the taxpayers' expense, adding that people like Deokaran risked their lives to expose corruption.

“The people who killed Babita are driving Lamborghinis. They are living a free life. Now, what type of country are we going to become, that the public servants who are the real public servants are the ones that are in hiding," he said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za