SIU probe into Tembisa Hospital vindicates whistleblower Deokaran

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi gave an update on key investigations into fraud, corruption, and maladministration in various government institutions in Midrand on Tuesday.

Lesufi confirmed, following denials from officials in the Department of Health, that Deokaran had compiled a report wherein she profiled more than 200 dodgy service providers that had benefitted from the irregular awarding of multi-million-rand contracts.

In their probe, the SIU fingered five individuals who were major beneficiaries of the alleged graft as Lesufi explained: “There were 224 service providers that were profiled by Ms Deokaran, but the SIU went to 227 and of all those that were profiled the major beneficiaries were the following individuals; Stefan Govindraju, Morgan Maumela, Titus Maumela, the Mazibuko family [Rudolph and Lihle] and Sello Sekhokho.”

Govindjaru was found to have allegedly taken the lion’s share of the more than R1 billion siphoned from the health facility after he pocketed an estimated R437 million rand between January 2020 and Oct 2022.

“In total, the five said individuals benefitted various amounts of money. The main beneficiary is Stefan Govindraju…within a period of two years this individual scored contracts at the value of R436, 925, 532 using different companies. The second beneficiaries are Mr Morgan Hangwani Maumela and Aluwani Titus Maumela. Jointly their institutions scored contracts at the value of R336, 325, 566,90. The third family is the Mazibukos, and [they] scored contracts to the total value of R249, 591,855.70. The last name is Sello Sekhokho and that value R1,000,778.90.”

Lesufi also announced that the probe has found suspended CEO at Tembisa Hospital Ashley Mthunzi was a key role player.

Mthunzi and Gauteng Health CFO Lerato Madyo were placed on precautionary suspension this year.

“We can confirm now that the SIU has found that the CEO at Tembisa Hospital at the time of the procurement was responsible for authorising purchase orders and request forms that led to the irregular appointment of 13 service providers. This finding is based on 27 payment documents received and analysed by the SIU.”

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Based on these findings of the possible syndicate activity, corruption, fraud, and irregular appointment of service providers which led to this irregular expenditure – the SIU has applied for the presidential proclamation which has been supported by the Gauteng provincial government.

Lesufi said the work done to expose the rot at Tembisa Hospital seeks the honour the memory of Deokaran, who was assassinated outside her home in August 2020 after her concerns about possible corruption in the department fell on deaf ears.