SIU implicates top ANC official in massive fraud
The chief whip of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Gauteng legislature, Brian Hlongwa, has been fingered in an alleged multi-billion rand fraud, corruption and nepotism plot.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has released the findings of an investigation into the Gauteng Health Department – fingering Hlongwa during his tenure as MEC of Health.
Hlongwa was implicated in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure to the tune of R1.2 billion during his tenure as MEC from 2006 to 2009.
This SIU investigation was authorised by a presidential proclamation in 2010 and was eventually handed to President Jacob Zuma in March 2017, a full seven years after it was commissioned.
The report only saw the light of day after civil organisations applied to court to have it released to the public.
The 122-page document chronicles how Hlongwa and various other highly-placed officials used the department’s funds as a piggy bank.
It details how kickbacks, luxury trips and other corrupt benefits were siphoned off to senior politicians.
The SIU found that financial misconduct is rooted in the procurement of goods and services by the department, much of which benefited particular private sector entities and the public sector officials who colluded with them.
Section27, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and Corruption Watch have called for Hlongwa's immediate dismissal.
Hlongwa willingly declined to comment.
SIU implicates top ANC official in massive fraud by Nathan Daniels on Scribd