'Corruption has no place in our democracy': ANC reacts to Tembisa Hospital mass looting
Mzi Khumalo, spokesperson for the ANC Gauteng PTT, demands urgent action against those implicated in the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital scandal, stressing the need for accountability in public healthcare.
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The ANC in Gauteng has welcomed the interim findings of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which uncovered that around R2 billion was siphoned off from Tembisa Hospital through entrenched corruption networks.
In a statement, ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT) spokesperson Mzi Khumalo commended SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi and his team for exposing syndicates accused of looting money meant for critical healthcare services.
“The report confirms what has long been suspected: a deeply entrenched network of corruption, fraud, mismanagement, and maladministration within the hospital’s Supply Chain Management,” said Khumalo.
“These disturbing revelations expose syndicates that brazenly looted funds meant for public healthcare, depriving the people of essential services.”
Khumalo said the ANC supported Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s decision in 2022 to sign a Secondment Agreement with the SIU to probe allegations at the hospital.
“The premier’s signing of a Secondment Agreement with the SIU in September 2022 was a decisive step towards uncovering the truth, freezing assets, and recovering stolen funds,” he explained.
He also highlighted Gauteng’s broader anti-corruption measures, including lifestyle audits for MECs and senior officials, the establishment of an independent Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, and the rollout of the Open Tender System.
“Since the premier’s commitment in the 2023 State of the Province Address, 89 forensic reports have been released, 88 individuals have faced consequence management, and more than 55 criminal cases have been registered with law enforcement agencies. These actions underline Gauteng’s resolve to lead the fight against corruption,” Khumalo added.
The ANC Gauteng PTT said it fully backed the SIU’s efforts and called for urgent action against all those implicated.
“We call on the Gauteng Department of Health to urgently implement the SIU’s recommendations and ensure that swift and decisive action is taken against all implicated officials,” Khumalo said.
“Furthermore, we expect law enforcement agencies, including the SAPS, the Hawks, the NPA, and the AFU, to act without fear or favour in pursuing criminal prosecutions and asset recovery. The brazen theft of money meant for the most vulnerable in our society cannot go unpunished.”
Khumalo stressed that corruption was incompatible with democracy.
“As the ANC Gauteng PTT, we emphasise that corruption has no place in our democracy. Those who looted public resources at the expense of ordinary citizens must face the full might of the law,” he said.
The SIU has so far frozen more than R370 million in luxury assets linked to the scandal, including Lamborghinis, a Bentley, high-end properties in Sandton, Bantry Bay, and Zimbali Estate, as well as a leisure boat.
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