Gauteng Department of Health employee Dr Obakeng Stephen Mookeletsi – from Leratong Hospital – has appeared in court on charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.
Mookeletsi, as well as the director of a company called Triakon Engineering, Jabu Mahlangu, appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court this week, reports IOL.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the complainant is the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the case relates to an amount of R621 000, paid by Gauteng Health to Mahlangu’s company account.
NPA Gauteng spokesperson Phindi Louw said Triakon was appointed through a quote system by Gauteng Health to supply and deliver personal protective equipment (PPE), during the pandemic.
But on 20 May 2020, the department’s CFO emailed Triakon cancelling the order for the PPE, namely gowns, with immediate effect, as Triakon had failed to deliver garments of acceptable standards. The warehouse, 3G Relocations, which was subcontracted with Gauteng Health to receive and distribute the PPE to hospitals, was also told not to accept further deliveries from Triakon.
Mookeletsi was arrested on 17 November on allegations that he went to 3G Relocations’ warehouse on 25 May 2020 to collect the PPE stock, on behalf of Gauteng health.
“However, he has never been responsible for quality assurance at the department, and was not authorised to act on their behalf,” said Louw.
When it realised that Triakon had delivered the PPE, though being told not to do so, the department contacted Mahlangu, “who told them that it was a donation”, she said.
The department later received an invoice for the “donated” PPE, which was processed and paid to Triakon’s account.
Mookeletsi and Mahlangu were released on bail of R10 000 each, and will return to court on 6 February.
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SIU looting probe: Top Gauteng Health officials to pay back R30m