Pretoria:The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order to freeze approximately R42.4 million in assets, including cash, properties, pensions, and investments, connected to the Tembisa Hospital corruption case.
According to South African Government News Agency, the preservation order is part of actions taken against alleged bribes totaling R100 million paid to Tembisa Hospital officials for procurement deals valued at approximately R600 million. The Special Tribunal's order prevents the disposal of assets belonging to Mr. Zacharia Tshisele, his civil wife Phumudzo Tshisele, his customary wife Fulufhelo Lineth Tshililo, and their associates.
The order also restricts financial dealings by implicated companies and individuals, including Joseph Fhumulani Muthaphuli and Ernest Monnakgotla, who was a former Area Manager at Tembisa Hospital and a member of the hospital's Quotation Adjudication Committee. Tshisele and Monnakgotla are accused of collaborating to divert funds from the hospital into two major syndicates.
The SIU's investigation highlights corruption, overpricing, and mismanagement in procuring protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the order blocks the Government Employees Pension Fund and Government Pensions Administration Agency from disbursing Tshisele's pension, valued at over R1 million, along with freezing two luxury properties.
The investigation revealed that two of the three main syndicates at Tembisa Hospital are linked to Tshisele. The Govindraju syndicate, allegedly led by Mr. Stefan Joel Govindraju, operated with 75 companies, receiving approximately R600 million. The Mazibuko syndicate, allegedly managed by Mr. Rudolf Mduduzi Mazibuko, used 17 companies to secure about R283 million. Both syndicates reportedly relied on corrupt cooperation from hospital officials, including Tshisele and Monnakgotla, for illegal procurement activities.
Tshisele, in his role as Operational Manager of the hospital's theatre in 2017, is alleged to have exploited his position to initiate supply chain processes and confirm goods' receipt, enabling payments to companies linked with the syndicates. He was directly involved in transactions worth approximately R15.9 million, each kept below the R500,000 threshold to circumvent competitive bidding. Many transactions were unnecessary, undelivered, or only partially fulfilled, violating several laws, including the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act.