The R150m in fees paid by Eastern Cape Health to the Coega Development Corporation in September last year has become a subject of investigation by the Hawks. A Daily Dispatch report says the amount was claimed by Coega as management fees for services rendered. But officials at the department say the amount was far more than what they were supposed to pay.
The report quotes the Hawks’ Anelisa Ngcakani as saying: “The DPCI (Hawks) is investigating matters which allegedly emanate from the Department of Health.”
The matter was reported to the Hawks by former Health Department infrastructure boss, Mlamli Tuswa, who questioned the payments – but has allegedly been ignored by the department. Tuswa alleges the money was paid after a ‘staged arbitration’ process.
“Some of the senior team members from the infrastructure unit objected to this being done. Dr (Thobile) Mbengashe simply ignored all the advice and arguments made to him not to pay,” wrote Tuswa.
According to the report, a Coega spokesperson said they were not aware of any formal investigation by the Hawks. He said the money claimed from the department was for work done.
[link url="https://dispatch.pressreader.com/@Lucille_Faro.3/csb_lCjVPuCmLY_wjqrS_YXBwlKmOcxZi3qlFOaA0BAc1aYnA1EZihfkd1ntSvFB-fHJ"]Daily Dispatch report (subscription needed)[/link]