The DA has urged Premier Panyaza Lesufi to remove HoD Lesiba Malotana – one of three officials implicated in the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) probe of two questionable contracts within Gauteng Health.
The trio is allegedly linked to tenders involving the supply and delivery of three-division plastic containers with lids, small tubs with lids, dual-surface polyester film and orthopaedic implants, fracture treatment and arthroscopy items, reports News24.
DA Gauteng shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom has raised concerns about Malotana and the other officials allegedly receiving more than R10m in bribes, saying the SIU has powers for further investigation, can lay criminal charges and recover money through civil court action and asset forfeiture.
According to an amaBhungane article published in April last year, a whistle-blower accused Malotana and the two senior officials of manipulating supply chain processes to ensure that medical devices company BAS Medxpress (BAS Med) got two tenders in 2016 and 2017.
At the time, Malotana was the chief director of the Special Projects Directorate and the CEO of Gauteng Emergency Medical Services.
Bloom said the SIU had investigated a R31m contract to supply plastic food containers to the department’s Masakhane Laundry and Cook-Freeze Factory.
The whistle-blower alleged that Malotana and the two other officials received a kickback exceeding R8m for their supposed assistance in securing a tender. Additionally, another alleged kickback of R3m was paid when BAS Med was chosen to supply orthopaedic equipment to Gauteng hospitals.
“It is outrageous that Premier Lesufi appointed Malotana as health head on 1 June despite the publicly known SIU investigation,” said Bloom.
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