Free State Health has appointed convicted fraudster Zongezile Adam Zumane – with no healthcare background – as CEO of Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital, exposing the extent of political patronage networks operating within the department, according to multiple insiders and whistle-blowers.
City Press reports that the decision sidelined the competent acting CEO, Mbulelo Diba, who has six years of experience.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi was also taken aback by the controversial appointment and has contacted the Free State Government to demand answers
In 2012, Zumane was convicted of defrauding Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality of more than R5m between 2000 and 2005, with the broader criminal enterprise involving six government officials and five private citizens.
The group was charged with 259 counts of fraud, racketeering, theft and money laundering, estimated at R747m. Zumane was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment but served just three.
“Everyone knew he had been convicted, but the argument …was that there was no law prohibiting him from being appointed. We were told he will not work with money. Our people are clowns,” said a senior source at Bophelo House, the provincial Health Department’s headquarters.
The source said Zumane was appointed to the position because of his” strong political connection” to senior ANC and government officials.
Political pressure
Multiple insiders describe the recruitment process as being compromised from the outset.
“There was political pressure to appoint him, and panel members were lobbied even before shortlisting,” said one source, who added that Zumane’s criminal record was explicitly raised during recruitment discussions.
“His record was brought to the attention of panel members, but those concerns were dismissed on technical grounds.”
According to court records, Free State High Court (Bloemfontein) Judge Albert Kruger had found that Zumane had operated his fraud scheme through African Jazz Club, a company that had no bank account at the time, apparently deliberately.
“Instead, payments were made into employees’ personal bank accounts, and they would withdraw the money and hand it over to Zumane,” the court documents state.
Competent officials sidelined
Sources within the hospital described the appointment as politically motivated.
“It’s crazy how they went for Zumane, who has no experience, at the expense of (Mbulelo) Diba, who has been acting since 2019,” said one.
Another described the appointment as “reckless”, saying that while there should not be discrimination, “placing a convicted fraudster in charge of a hospital’s money raises serious governance concerns”.
City Press understands that Diba is a qualified medical doctor who has been working in the hospital for many years, while Zumane holds a national diploma in nursing and used to work for Mangaung metro as a public servant.
Hospital sources report that under Zumane’s leadership, operational standards have already been compromised.
“Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital allegedly administered two expired drips to a nine-year-old patient since his (Zumane’s) appointment on 1 July 2025,” said a source with direct knowledge of the incident.
Zumane’s appointment follows a pattern within Free State Government structures, according to sources who track provincial appointments.
A source familiar with provincial politics describes a system where criminal conviction serves as proof of loyalty to patronage networks rather than disqualification from public service.
“This isn’t incompetence,” said the source. “Criminal networks have become so entrenched that they can operate in broad daylight, openly appointing their own to positions of public trust.”
Whistleblower fears
Sources within both the hospital and provincial Health Department expressed concern about speaking out, with several describing a climate of fear around challenging politically connected appointments.
“Anyone who questions these decisions faces retaliation,” said one. “The message is clear: loyalty to the network matters more than qualifications or integrity.”
Hospital insiders point to previous incidents where qualified candidates were passed over for politically connected appointees.
Multiple sources had confirmed that department officials were aware of the controversy surrounding the appointment, but had received instructions not to say anything publicly.
City Press approached the Free State Department of Health for comment, but it has not responded.
“When criminal conviction becomes a qualification rather than a disqualification, you know the system has been completely captured,” said one source.
The appointment has sparked outrage among healthcare workers and community members.
Efforts to get a comment from Zumane were unsuccessful.
News24 article – Convicted fraudster appointed as Free State hospital CEO (Restricted access)
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