R13.5 Million Recovered as Tembisa Hospital Bribery Scandal Deepens

A bribery attempt gone wrong unravels more layers of Gauteng’s biggest health corruption saga.

The corruption storm surrounding Tembisa Hospital once a name whispered only in auditor-general reports has now exploded into another national scandal. This week, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed it has recovered R13.5 million from a nurse at the centre of an ever-widening web of fraud, bribery and procurement crimes.

The nurse, 53-year-old Zacharia Chisele, was arrested after allegedly attempting to bribe a Hawks investigator. His story is not just about personal wrongdoing, it is a window into the systemic rot that has plagued one of Gauteng’s busiest hospitals for years.

A Bribe That Triggered a Bigger Unraveling

According to the SIU, Chisele made unlawful financial gains between January 2020 and September 2023 by receiving payments from service providers involved in irregular tenders at the hospital.

When investigators closed in, Chisele allegedly tried to stop the wheels of justice from turning. On 21 November, Hawks Sergeant Papi Tsie reportedly approached an investigator on his behalf, offering “assistance” for a price.

By 25 November, Chisele and Tsie allegedly delivered R100,000 in cash to the investigator a trap that led to their immediate arrest.

Both appeared at the Pretoria Magistrates Court, where the case was postponed to 2 December for bail. They remain behind bars.

The SIU’s Investigation: A Window Into Gauteng’s Procurement Crisis

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that the R13,530,904.27 recovered is only a portion of the unlawful proceeds traced to Chisele.

But the big picture is staggering:

• R122 million in corrupt payments identified

• 15 officials implicated

• 116 disciplinary referrals already prepared

• Allegations ranging from money laundering to bid rigging, stretching from clerks to senior management

The Tembisa investigation falls under Proclamation 136 of 2023, authorising the SIU to probe maladministration across the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) and its facilities.

And the case is far from over, more suspects are expected to be identified.

Tembisa Hospital: A History of Scandal That Won’t Go Away

For many South Africans, the name “Tembisa Hospital” recalls the shocking exposés of the past few years:

• Questionable million-rand purchases

• Strange supplier names and ghost companies

• Overpriced items, from R5000 mops to R9000 office chairs

• High-level political connections

The hospital became infamous after whistle-blower Babita Deokaran was assassinated shortly after raising red flags about R850 million in suspicious transactions.

Although the SIU continues to investigate, the scandal keeps evolving and this week’s arrest proves the corruption networks are still active.

Social Media Reaction: ‘Same Story, Different Day’

On social platforms like X and Facebook, users expressed frustration, not surprise.

Many questioned how a nurse could accumulate more than R13 million in illicit payments. Others demanded immediate blacklisting of companies and prosecution of senior officials.

Several users referenced known names previously linked to Tembisa’s R2 billion looting networks, including:

• Hangwani Maumela, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew

• Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, controversial tender businessman

For many, the scandal reinforces a familiar frustration: corruption thrives while hospitals struggle with shortages of staff, beds and medical equipment.

Hawks and SIU Promise a No-Fear, No-Favour Crackdown

Hawks Acting National Head Siphosihle Nkosi assured the public that the investigation would continue “without deterrence”, especially against officials within the Hawks who involve themselves in criminal dealings.

Meanwhile, Kganyago emphasised the SIU’s commitment to recovering every cent lost to corruption. Civil proceedings are already under way to reclaim the remaining funds through the High Court and Special Tribunal.

The Bigger Question: What Will It Take to Fix Tembisa?

While R13.5 million recovered is a win, it is just a fraction of the more than R122 million uncovered and a drop in the ocean compared to the R2 billion looting estimates tied to syndicates operating in and around the hospital.

The scandal highlights a deeper problem:
How do you repair a public health system where corruption has become embedded at every level?

As the court processes continue, every revelation seems to reinforce that Tembisa’s crisis isn’t a single scandal, it’s a symptom of a failing system.

And South Africans are left wondering:
Will accountability finally follow the money this time?

{Source: IOL}

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