​Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government has vowed to collaborate closely with the Department of Health to promptly implement all recommendations from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) regarding allegations of corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
On Monday, the SIU released an interim report led by Advocate Mothibi, exposing a deeply entrenched network of alleged corruption, fraud, and maladministration within the hospital's Supply Chain Management processes.
SIU's ongoing investigation into Tembisa Hospital has identified three major syndicates responsible for misappropriating R2 billion intended for healthcare services. An analysis of 2 207 procurement bundles revealed significant maladministration and procurement fraud.
According to the SIU report, key officials from the Gauteng Department of Health and Tembisa Hospital allegedly benefited from corrupt payments, enabling the irregular appointment of service providers through money laundering, fraud, fronting, and falsified Supply Chain Management documentation.
The investigation currently involves 207 service providers linked to 4 501 purchase orders (POs) at Tembisa Hospital. Each PO is tied to a purported three-quote procurement process involving three competing bidders. The total value of transactions under investigation, as per the Presidential Proclamation, amounts to R2 043 293 404.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi welcomed the interim report, describing its revelations as "shocking and disturbing." 
He highlighted how syndicates brazenly looted public funds meant for healthcare, underscoring the need for accountability.
Lesufi urged the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) to act decisively on the SIU's evidence. 
"We view this as a critical step in honouring Babita Deokaran's legacy and fulfilling our promise that her death would not be in vain. The people of Gauteng deserve accountability, and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve it. 
"The SIU's investigation has confirmed that Babita Deokaran was a true hero. We will honour her courage by ensuring our public service is not a sanctuary for the corrupt," said Premier Lesufi.
The provincial government initiated this investigation to uncover the truth. As a testament to its commitment, Premier Lesufi signed a Secondment Agreement with the SIU on September 2, 2022, and endorsed the SIU's application for a Presidential Proclamation on January 23, 2023. 
"We were convinced that this proclamation was crucial for recovering stolen funds, freezing assets, and revealing the syndicate's full scope. We have established ourselves as the national leader in anti-corruption measures by implementing a set of groundbreaking initiatives."
In the 2023 State of the Province Address (SOPA), Lesufi voluntarily committed to releasing all forensic reports once related court and disciplinary proceedings are concluded. He noted that Gauteng is the only province to conduct lifestyle audits for all Members of the Executive Council (MECs), Directors-General (DGs), Heads of Departments (HODs), and Supply Chain Management personnel, with a new report on the latter forthcoming.
"We have further strengthened our efforts by establishing an independent Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and a pioneering Open Tender System to ensure transparency in adjudication," Lesufi added.
Since the 2023 SOPA commitment, the Gauteng Provincial Government has released 89 forensic reports, subjected 88 individuals to consequence management, and registered over 55 criminal cases with law enforcement agencies. These actions underscore the government's unwavering dedication to accountability.