The recent cancellation of unlawful contracts at Tembisa Tertiary Hospital by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which implicates over 111 officials in corruption syndicates, highlights significant weaknesses in South Africa's procurement system.
Corruption Watch has rightly cautioned that without enhanced transparency and oversight, public funds will continue to be at risk.
Advocate Andy Mothibi this week confirmed that disciplinary processes are ongoing as the investigation exposes syndicates tied to the hospital’s corruption, adding that assets worth billions of rands will be seized and recovered.
"Our investigation has uncovered more than 111 officials who have been colluding with these syndicates. There might still be more. We have sent all these to the Department of Health. We expect that action will be taken, and in some instances, the department has taken action, and we are pleased about that," Mothibi said.
The investigation follows the 2021 murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran. Mothibi revealed that billions were siphoned from Tembisa Hospital through illicit contracts, leading President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2023 to sign Proclamation 136, authorising the SIU probe.
Karram Singh, consultant at Corruption Watch, highlighted that while cancelling contracts prevents further financial loss, it does not automatically ensure accountability for the officials who approved them.
"There is a direct consequence in terms of preventing further wasteful spending, but whether it leads to accountability for the individuals responsible is another matter. Cancelling contracts is crucial, but it does not automatically ensure justice or accountability for the corrupt actions themselves," Singh said.
He stressed the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect whistleblowers, restoring confidence in reporting mechanisms and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. Singh noted that Deokaran was not a bystander. She was doing her job, unlike traditional whistleblowers.
"There needs to be confidence and trust put back into the system, whereby people who are vulnerable have a safe place to go to ensure that their disclosures are received and, where possible, their anonymity is protected," Singh said.
He proposed the establishment of a well-funded, properly staffed public office to handle whistleblower complaints and ensure allegations reach the right authorities. Singh also recommended a system where whistleblowers could receive a portion of recovered assets if their disclosures lead to successful recovery, a proposal supported by the Zondo Commission but not yet implemented.
Singh further explained that the SIU’s findings reveal deep flaws in the public procurement system, which was manipulated by corrupt individuals.
"The fraud and corruption at Tembisa Hospital fundamentally relate to the way in which the procurement system was captured and manipulated," he said.
By the time internal audits and authorities identified the misconduct, much of the money had already been stolen and laundered into various accounts, making recovery extremely difficult. The case underscores the longstanding vulnerabilities in public procurement, Singh added.
"If we can detect irregular procurement earlier in the process, we have a better chance of exposing those involved and recovering stolen funds," he said.
Despite the new Public Procurement Act, Singh warned that transparency remains insufficient and called for enhanced scrutiny and visibility across the procurement lifecycle to prevent, detect, and respond to corruption effectively.
"The public procurement system is not sufficiently transparent, and increased transparency across the procurement lifecycle is essential," he said.
The Star
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