Two individuals linked to Tembisa Hospital, Hawks member Papie Tsie and hospital official Zacharia Tshisele, are set to apply for bail at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Both face corruption charges after allegedly attempting to bribe a Hawks officer who was investigating procurement irregularities at the facility.
The arrests followed an alleged R100,000 bribe offered to the officer, who was preparing to apprehend the suspects once the transaction was completed.
Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo confirmed that additional cases related to Tembisa Hospital corruption are under investigation.
“Further charges will be considered by the DPP as inquiries progress. We remain committed to bringing everyone involved to justice,” Mbambo said.
ActionSA welcomed Tshisele’s arrest and urged swift prosecution of all implicated officials. “Public service is meant to serve society, not to enrich individuals at the expense of communities,” the party said, emphasising the need for accountability.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been probing procurement irregularities at the hospital for several years. Their investigation revealed that Tshisele received illicit payments from various service providers between January 2020 and September 2023.
In April 2025, the SIU referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) for prosecution and asset recovery.
In November 2025, Tshisele returned R13,530,904.27 of the R122,228,000 identified in the SIU’s interim report as corruptly obtained funds from Tembisa Hospital and Gauteng Department of Health officials. At least 15 current and former officials have been implicated in corruption, money laundering, collusion, and bid-rigging linked to irregular service appointments. The number of officials under investigation is expected to rise.
To date, the SIU has issued 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials, 108 of which were sent to the GDOH for maladministration and irregular procurement practices. The unit reaffirmed its commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring integrity in public institutions.
The Star
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