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R2 Billion Looted: SIU Exposes Corruption at Tembisa Hospital
Billions meant to save lives at one of Gauteng’s busiest public hospitals have instead been stolen. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed that more than R2 billion was looted from Tembisa Hospital through fraudulent procurement deals, leaving South Africans stunned and angry.
A Shocking Discovery
At a media briefing in Johannesburg, SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi described the findings as “a devastating plunder of public funds.” Joined by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, he explained how three syndicates systematically drained hospital finances.
When the probe began in 2022, investigators believed around R850 million had disappeared. That figure has now ballooned past R2 billion. Instead of reaching patients through medicines, staff support and equipment, money was channelled into front companies and manipulated contracts.
Patients Pay the Price
For local families, Tembisa Hospital is a vital lifeline. The knowledge that funds were siphoned away while wards battled overcrowding and shortages has hit hard. Social media has been flooded with frustration and calls for justice, with many recalling the bravery of slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
Deokaran flagged irregular contracts at Tembisa in 2021, only to be assassinated outside her home weeks later. Her warnings have now been confirmed, highlighting both the risks faced by whistleblowers and the cost of systemic corruption.
The Syndicates Named
The SIU’s findings have implicated businessman Hangwani Maumela, who is related to President Cyril Ramaphosa through a previous marriage, in R415 million worth of irregular hospital contracts. While the president has distanced himself from Maumela, the connection has amplified public scrutiny.
Another syndicate linked to Rudolph Mazibuko allegedly benefited from R300 million. Together, the networks captured contracts worth billions, creating an entrenched system of fraud that required years of audits to unravel.
What Lies Ahead
This week’s report is an interim update. The SIU has promised further findings as the probe deepens, while the National Prosecuting Authority and Asset Forfeiture Unit continue pursuing asset freezes and potential prosecutions.
For Gauteng’s residents, the demand is simple: that this scandal finally delivers accountability in the health sector. For patients at Tembisa Hospital, the hope is that money once stolen will translate back into functioning wards, stocked pharmacies and reliable care.
The SIU’s revelations have placed the country’s health system under an unforgiving spotlight. South Africans are watching closely to see if justice will follow the billions lost.
Also read: Anglican Church Urges South African Institutions to Cut Ties with Israel
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: ActionSA
