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Tembisa Hospital CEO and CFO Face Disciplinary Action for Fraud
The suspended CEO of Tembisa Hospital, Ashley Mthunzi, and Gauteng Health Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Lerato Madyo are scheduled to appear before a disciplinary hearing on October 9. This announcement came from Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko during her oral response to questions posed by the DA’s Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, in the provincial legislature as reported by IOL.
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Mthunzi and Madyo were suspended on August 26, 2022, following recommendations from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which the-then Premier David Makhura had appointed. The SIU’s findings revealed that Babita Deokaran, a senior accountant in the department who was later tragically killed at her home, had raised concerns about payments to companies linked to top ANC official Sello Sekhokho in Ekurhuleni, flagging them as “possibly fraudulent.” However, Madyo and Mthunzi allegedly disregarded these warnings.
In response to these developments, Jack Bloom expressed his astonishment, stating that it was unacceptable for disciplinary hearings to be initiated against the two individuals after more than a year of suspension. He also noted that six officials at Tembisa Hospital had been suspended, and charges were being finalised by the investigating officer, which had caused delays in the SIU’s investigation report. The report had recommended disciplinary actions against them back in December of the previous year.
Regarding the “Justice for Babita” petition, which called for the blacklisting of 224 companies implicated in irregular payments by Tembisa Hospital, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko explained that blacklisting could only occur after the investigation’s outcome. However, measures have been implemented to prevent future dealings with the affected companies.
Bloom welcomed these restrictions, which he considered long overdue, as some of these companies were still receiving hospital contracts late last year. He emphasised the importance of not further delaying disciplinary actions and criminal charges against those involved in the case to ensure justice for Babita Deokaran, including both masterminds and accomplices.
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Photo: Facebook / @Tembisa Hospital
