Pretoria - Healthcare heavyweight Afrocentric is being accused of using a black doctor to support its black economic empowerment (BEE) status, and is now allegedly harassing her after she refused to be part of the scheme.
A South African born woman, Dr Nomteto Belinda Ogundipe, approached UDM leader and Member of Parliament Bantu Holomisa complaining that Afrocentric had embarked on a scheme to use her as a BEE front.
The B-BBEE Commission confirmed that it is aware of the matter.
In a letter seen by the Pretoria News, Holomisa on a parliamentary letterhead requests the intervention of Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. The letter in part reads: “I was approached by Dr Nomteto Belinda Ogundipe … of what happened to her in a BEE fronting scheme. It has been a case of shifting the goalposts with regards to equipment necessary for her practice. Dr Ogundipe is essentially now being harassed to be a BEE partner in this scheme.
“I humbly request your urgent assistance in this matter, where this giant is allegedly abusing this little person.”
Ogundipe could not be reached for comment. DTI spokesperson Bongani Lukhele referred the enquiry to BEE commission representative Mofihli Teleki. He said: “The B-BBEE Commission confirms that a formal complaint was lodged by Dr Belinda Ogundipe on November 15. All complaints received by the B-BBEE Commission are subjected to a screening process that determines the merit of each matter as per the procedures and regulations.”
An investigation would be launched if they found the complaint had merit. “While the complaint is being assessed, the Commission is not in a position to comment further on the matter.”
It’s not the first time the healthcare giant, led by CEO Ahmed Banderker and chairperson Dr Annah Mokgokong, is in hot water.
In June the Pretoria News exposed how the Afrocentric Group had allegedly captured the government-funded medical aid schemes through officials who gave its subsidiaries unfettered powers to adjudicate and irregularly award multimillion rand tenders to its sister companies.
Responding to Pretoria News queries, Afrocentric spokesperson Palesa Makhetha, said: “The AfroCentric Group categorically rejects these claims as baseless and factually incorrect. AfroCentric Group strives to address the high levels of unemployment through various initiatives that support the sustainability, financial and operational independence of several enterprises. The AfroCentric Group is measured under the Generic Codes of Good Practice.
“In 2017, Dr Belinda Ogundipe & Associates received funding from the AfroCentric Groupvia the AfroCentric Group’s Enterprise Development Programme to support her intention to establish three Documentation Based Care (“DBC”) centres, which operated through the usage of physiotherapy machinery procured through Klinikka (Pty) Ltd on her behalf.”
The group’s website says it is the “most diversified healthcare company in Southern Africa, with more than 3.8 million lives under management (39% market share) serviced in the region”.
“The Group is a majority black-owned, JSE-listed investment holding company with a focusing on health administration, health risk management, pharmaceuticals, wellness and disease management.”
Pretoria News