The Public Protector has released a report with damning findings against KwaZulu-Natal Health over alleged tender irregularities in the procurement of four mobile health units, reports Spotlight. The units cost taxpayers about R61m to lease between 2012 and 2017. The department paid for four units, but secured only two. The public protector’s report follows complaints over alleged irregularities by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and an anonymous whistleblower in 2015.
Spotlight says that in her report, the public protector found most of the claims made by the complainants were substantiated. The public protector flagged poor contract management and irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure to the tune of millions as a big concern. However, Spotlight says, these concerns are not new – the auditor-general has made similar findings over many years, often with little or no consequences. The department also remains tight-lipped when confronted with media queries on investigations and other forms of action being taken against errant officials.
The IFP said the seriousness of the public protector’s report could not be underestimated as it indicated “the depth of corruption whereby due processes are undermined by senior management officials with aims to benefit themselves and certain individuals with dodgy dealings, at the expense of the general public”.
The party implored the department to act against Sibongile Zungu, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize’s special adviser on NHI, and previous head of the province’s health department, and other implicated senior officials.
Spotlight said it approached the National Health Department for comment from Zungu, who declined at this stage.
[link url="https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2020/01/20/public-protector-flags-irregular-kzn-health-contracts/"]Full Spotlight report[/link]