In the wake of the Tembisa Hospital corruption revelations, fed-up unions are demanding urgent lifestyle audits for all employees, and for all implicated staff to face legal action, reports News24.
The National Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has highlighted the devastating effects of the looting, including critical shortages of nurses, doctors and essential infrastructure, and along with Cosatu, has urged MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to act decisively, warning of continued protests targeting the department.
The unions say they want decisive eradication measures that spare no one, including their own members, and last week marched to the MEC’s offices in Johannesburg, demanding decisive action to tackle the looting at Tembisa Hospital.
Their action followed the release of an interim report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), initiated after an exposé by journalist Jeff Wicks, detailed the theft of R2bn from the hospital through fraudulent tenders.
Nehawu Gauteng secretary Mzikayise Tshontshi described the findings as a glaring example of systemic corruption crippling the department, and emphasised the union’s commitment to accountability.
“It is highly possible that some of our members are involved in this disgraceful looting… If proven guilty, they must be held accountable.
“We are demanding lifestyle audits for all employees at the hospital, and every cent stolen must be recovered, even if it requires auctioning properties of those involved. Nehawu refuses to be associated with corruption.”
The union added that the consequences of the looting extended well beyond theft, directly affecting the lives of all Gauteng residents.
He highlighted the department’s failure to address critical shortages in essential services, saying the billions that were stolen could have been used to hire desperately needed nurses and doctors.
“Instead, our hospitals are burdened with dilapidated infrastructure, staff shortages, and abandoned projects. These failures represent exploitative tendencies within the department, and we demand they fill vacant posts immediately and rectify this chaos.”
While Nehawu stopped short of labelling MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko as incompetent, it warned that her ability to correct these failures would determine her credibility in office.
“If she acts decisively to address corruption and mismanagement, she proves herself capable. If not, her authority must be questioned.”
Echoing Nehawu’s call for justice, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) provincial secretary Amos Monyela denounced the looting as a direct blow to all Gauteng residents, calling for stricter oversight of the tender process, and warning of continued action if the government failed to address these failings.
While the MEC had allegedly made efforts to curb corruption, Monyela argued they were far from sufficient.
“The time for half-measures is over,” he said.
Cosatu announced plans to escalate its actions, with marches targeting Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Tembisa Hospital aimed at placing sustained pressure on the government.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Boats, Bentleys and buildings seized in Tembisa probe asset haul
Tembisa Hospital ‘kingpin’ nailed by SARS on tax charges
Tembisa Hospital tender tycoon landed R360m SAPS contract
Uncovering the 200 suspicious Tembisa Hospital contracts flagged by Deokaran