SIU Celebrates Breakthrough as Tembisa Hospital Corruption Scandal Deepens

A former staffer has been arrested and investigators say they’re only scratching the surface of a sprawling R122 million network.

The corruption crisis that has hung over Tembisa Hospital for years has taken a decisive turn. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the arrest of Zacharia Tshisele, a former hospital employee accused of siphoning millions from the state through fraudulent procurement deals.

But according to investigators, this arrest is just the beginning, a doorway into a much bigger web of graft inside one of Gauteng’s busiest public hospitals.

R13.5 Million Recovered, but It’s “Only a Fraction”

The SIU confirmed that Tshisele has already paid back R13 530 904.27 money investigators say represents only a slice of what he unlawfully gained while working at Tembisa Hospital between January 2020 and September 2023.

This repayment is not a settlement or closure, the SIU emphasised, but part of an ongoing civil case aimed at recovering the full proceeds of corruption.

The unit referred Tshisele’s matter to the NPA, the Hawks (DPCI) and the Asset Forfeiture Unit back in April 2025, setting wheels in motion for criminal prosecution and asset seizure.

A Rotten System: SIU Uncovers R122 Million in Corrupt Payments

The SIU’s interim findings reveal a staggering number:
R122,228,000 in corrupt payments linked to officials inside the Gauteng Department of Health and Tembisa Hospital.

To many South Africans, the figure is shocking but not surprising. Public distrust in hospital procurement soared in 2022 after the assassination of Babita Deokaran, a whistleblower who raised alarms about suspicious payments tied to the same hospital.

While this investigation is separate, the echoes are hard to ignore. Tembisa Hospital has long been viewed as a hotspot for irregular spending, and this probe reinforces the extent of the rot.

At Least 15 Officials Implicated, With More Expected

The SIU says at least 15 current and former officials have been connected to corruption, collusion, money laundering and bid-rigging schemes. These aren’t just senior managers, the corruption allegedly spans the whole hierarchy.

“These individuals abused their positions throughout the procurement process,”
the SIU said, describing a pattern of inflated prices, pre-selected service providers and brazen self-enrichment.

And investigators warn the number will rise as the probe widens.

Inside the Gauteng health system, this revelation has fueled anxiety: if one hospital contains this level of misconduct, what does it say about the broader department?

116 Disciplinary Referrals, A System Under Scrutiny

Accountability has been steady and widespread:

• 116 disciplinary referrals have been prepared against 13 officials,

• 108 referrals were sent to the Gauteng Department of Health, focusing on maladministration and improperly awarded contracts.

Government insiders say the fallout has placed enormous pressure on the provincial health department, already stretched by funding constraints and understaffed facilities.

For healthcare workers on the ground, nurses overworked, wards packed, equipment scarce, the scandal feels like a personal betrayal.

A Legal Mandate Backed by Presidential Authority

The SIU’s work stems from Proclamation 136 of 2023, which specifically instructed investigators to examine allegations of corruption within the Gauteng health department and Tembisa Hospital.

Under the SIU and Special Tribunals Act, the unit is empowered to:

• Refer criminal conduct to the NPA

• Pursue civil litigation in the High Court or Special Tribunal

• Recover financial losses suffered by the state

In short, the SIU is using its full arsenal and the Tembisa investigation is now one of its most defining corruption cases.

Public Reaction: Anger, Fatigue, and a Sense of Déjà Vu

On social media, the reaction has been fierce:

• “How many millions were stolen before someone pressed pause?” one user posted on X.

• “This is Babita’s blood crying out,” another wrote, linking the scandal to Deokaran’s murder.

• Others expressed exhaustion: “We report, we expose, they arrest one person… and the network continues.”

The outrage reflects a broader sentiment: South Africans are tired of corruption scandals in the healthcare system, especially in a province where hospitals often can’t provide basic equipment or bed space.

What This Means Going Forward

While Tshisele’s arrest is a milestone, it does not close the book on the Tembisa saga. Instead, it marks the beginning of what could become one of Gauteng’s most consequential anti-corruption clean-ups.

The SIU’s work is still expanding, more arrests are likely, and disciplinary action is rolling out across the department.

South Africans, however, have heard promises of “accountability” before. Whether this case becomes a turning point or another chapter in corruption fatigue, will depend on how deep the investigation goes, and how willing authorities are to act on every lead.

For now, one thing is unmistakable:
the truth is spilling out, and Tembisa Hospital will never be viewed the same again.

{Source: The Citizen}

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