The acting head of the Northern Cape Department of Health has been arrested for a second time this year for fraud and contraventions of the Public Finances Management Act, Volksblad reports.
Dr Dion Theys (54) and his financial head, Mosimanagape Daniel Gaborone (52), appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Kimberley on Monday. They are charged with irregularly awarding contracts for PPE worth R43m at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Each was released on bail of R20 000 and the matter was postponed to the end of September.
Theys was already out on bail of R30 000 after his arrest in March on similar charges. Those charges relate to lease agreements dating from 2014 worth R96m for nursing staff accommodation.
Cosatu has been calling for Theys’ suspension since March, but he remains in his position. The trade union federation welcomed the latest arrests and again challenged Premier Zamani Saul, who is known as a vocal clean governance proponent, to suspend the officials.
Volksblad article –N-Kaapse amptenare in hof oor beweerde bedrog (Restricted access)
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