The probe into the web of corruption linked to Tembisa Hospital, triggered by whistleblower Babita Deokaran, is showing results, with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently seizing numerous assets belonging to tenderpreneur Hangwani Maumela and his family, as well as from Rudoph Mazibuko.
High-end properties worth millions, as well as a fleet of luxury vehicles, have been confiscated, reports The Citizen, after two preservation orders secured by the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) were served on members of the two syndicates implicated in fraud and corruption at the hospital.
The investigation was precipitated by the report from Deokaran, who was assassinated on 23 August 2021 and who was the Chief Director: Financial Accounting at the Gauteng Department of Health.
Deokaran’s report had detailed suspected procurement irregularities within Tembisa Hospital’s Supply Chain Management.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the Specialised Audit Services (SAS) unit of the National Treasury conducted a review of the hospital’s basic accounting system payment data to determine all payments made to companies identified by Deokaran as having benefited from the unlawful activities.
It also reviewed the hospital’s central supplier database and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission records of the implicated companies to verify their registration and directorships – establishing that 14 entities controlled by the Maumela syndicate “irregularly and unlawfully benefited from contracts from Tembisa Hospital with a cumulative value of more than R400m”.
A total of 18 entities controlled by the Mazibuko syndicate apparently benefited from contracts from the hospital with a cumulative value exceeded R300m.
On 14 August, the AFU was granted an order relating to property – worth R326m – owned by members of the Maumela syndicate, as well as four Lamborghinis, a Bentley and a boat, Mjonondwane said.
Two weeks later, on 27 August, the AFU was granted an order relating to property worth R47m owned by members of the Mazibuko syndicate, as well as three Mercedes-Benzes and a Land Rover.
The analysis of the flow of funds indicates that most of the funds received by the syndicate entities were used to purchase assets, pay bribes to officials, cover bidders, and fund the extravagant lifestyles of syndicate members, added Mjonondwane.
A very small percentage of the total amount received could possibly be ascribed to the purchase of supplies for delivery in terms of the contracts.
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