A Gauteng hospital “corruption mafia”, allegedly headed by suspended Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi, is claimed to have been “manipulating” tender processes to plunder the province’s ailing health system – and the network includes a number of state hospitals, not just Tembisa.
A Mail & Guardian investigation has also unearthed an alleged assassination plot against a whistle-blower. The assassination plot comes on the back of the murder of health official Babita Deokaran in August last year, who had exposed the nefarious and suspect dealings in the provincial system.
The M&G investigation has tracked how Mthunzi moved around with the same executive management team at Pholosong Hospital, Far East Rand Hospital and Tembisa Tertiary Hospital carrying out the same alleged corrupt and frivolous procurement.
After the M&G presented its findings to the Gauteng Health Department, spokesperson Motalatale Modiba confirmed it would launch an investigation into how Mthunzi and his associates embedded themselves in the hospital’s procurement processes.
It is not the first time Mthunzi has been under investigation. In September last year, he was meant to appear at a disciplinary hearing brought by the provincial department. which could have led to the termination of his contract. He was supposed to be charged with misconduct for “contravening the recruitment and selection policy” of the Health Department by inserting his trusted lieutenants in purchasing departments at hospitals to which he was seconded by the provincial government.
Gauteng health sources said the disciplinary action against Mthunzi was because of how he “willy-nilly moved around with an executive management team to loot through bogus procurement”.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Tender tycoon scoops R36m from Tembisa in dubious dealings
Hospitals’ audit unrelated to Deokaran’s report: Health Department
ANC bigwigs score millions from Tembisa Hospital
Tembisa Hospital CFO and Gauteng Health boss suspended as SIU begins probe