The Tembisa Hospital probe has netted more fish, with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) obtaining a preservation order and an interim interdict against a R6.4m luxury property and the R1.8m pension benefits of a former hospital clerk allegedly linked to procurement corruption, reports IOL.
The order, granted by the Special Tribunal, forms part of the investigation into activities linked to a network known as Syndicate X at the hospital.
The SIU said the assets are linked to Duduzile Nkosazana Nobungwana, a former supply chain clerk at Tembisa who resigned during a disciplinary hearing.
The preservation order was granted to prevent the sale of the property and to safeguard assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, said the SIU, which also named businessman Stefan Joel Govindraju as the face behind the syndicate.
The investigation found that the luxury property was bought using funds allegedly derived from secret profits, kickbacks and bribes paid by suppliers doing business with Tembisa Hospital.
Nobungwana, who held positions including Chief Buyer and member of the Vetting Committee in the hospital’s Supply Chain Management unit, allegedly played a central role in the irregular adjudication and appointment of suppliers.
She allegedly received “gratification” from suppliers, with some of the payments being channelled through a front company, Mabitwa Trading, to finance the purchase of the property. This was registered in the name of Amatibe Holding, owned and directed by her son, Oscar Nobungwana.
The SIU said its investigation uncovered the existence of a wider procurement network at Tembisa – referred to as Syndicate X – allegedly linked to Govindraju.
According to the SIU, Govindraju is the director of at least 75 entities, 73 of which were allegedly irregularly appointed at Tembisa Hospital.
These entities were awarded 1 237 contracts through a purported three-quote procurement process that allegedly failed to comply with procurement prescripts.
Companies linked to the syndicate received payments amounting to R596.4m, while about R100m was allegedly paid to current and former hospital supply chain officials as suspected gratification.
The SIU said the preservation order was necessary because Nobungwana’s alleged conduct contributed to at least R5.1m in irregular expenditure and R13.6m in damages to the state.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Tembisa Hospital ‘kingpin’ nailed by SARS on tax charges
Three companies score R100m contracts, latest Tembisa exposé shows
Tembisa Hospital CEO ‘irregularly appointed’, Public Protecter finds