Five Eastern Cape Health Department officials are being investigated by the Special Investigative Unit and SA Police Service (SAPS) on allegations theft, having fake qualifications, making irregular appointments and wrongfully paying out overtime, says a Daily Dispatch report.
Health SG Thobile Mbengashe did not provide specifics of how much had been stolen, unduly paid out or wasted when he submitted his report to the Bhisho legislature’s Scopa. Seven officials were slapped with written warnings over an accumulated R295.6m in irregular expenditure and R1.2m in fruitless and wasteful expenditure in 2018/2019.
Disciplinary processes were launched against 18 others for their roles and 16 must pay back an unspecified amount. Mbengashe said hospital board funds were missing at the Fort Beaufort Hospital and gas cylinders at the one in Bhisho, while the probe into fraudulent qualifications was at Nompumelelo Hospital in Peddie.
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