A third person has been arrested in connection with a R32m fraud case linked to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, with Nandi Nandi Msimang (52), director of Mzansi LifeCare, appearing in court on Monday and being remanded in custody for her alleged role in the case.
Department HoD Sibongile Zungu (60) and Sifiso Mtshali (53) have already been arrested on charges of fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, and are currently out on a warning, expected in court on 21 October 2024 for trial. They were nabbed in May last year.
In the same month, a warrant of arrest had been issued for Msimang, who was only picked up in Sandton this past Sunday before being transported to Durban.
The case has been postponed to 17 July for a bail application, reports IOL.
In 2013, the KZN Department of Health had awarded a 36-month lease to Mzansi LifeCare for the hiring of a mobile clinic. The contract was later extended without supply chain management processes being followed.
In 2016, the department awarded the company a contract for the outright purchase of four mobile clinics, worth R32m, without following any supply chain management process.
The vehicles were registered under Mzansi LifeCare instead of the department.
No roadworthy certificates were obtained for the clinics by the department and the vehicles were apparently parked off for three years, before Msimang allegedly sold them.
A case of fraud was reported at Pietermaritzburg police station and the case docket allocated to the Durban based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Fraud charges for KZN Health ex-HoD over mobile clinics
Zungu to be acting head of EC Health despite corruption cloud
KZN R61m mobile hospital tender queried