The Gauteng government has taken decisive action against corruption within the Gauteng Departments of Health and Infrastructure Development. Following their implication in the Anglo Ashanti Hospital corruption scandal, five out of nine senior managers have been dismissed from their positions. Two managers received written warnings, one was acquitted, and one could not face disciplinary action as they were no longer employed by the department.
The crackdown comes after the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) recommended disciplinary and criminal actions against the implicated managers. In December 2022, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed the findings of the SIU report, which uncovered serious irregularities in the awarding of contracts for the refurbishment of the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital. Originally budgeted at R50 million, the costs escalated to a staggering R588 million due to misleading information provided by the officials.
The AngloGold Ashanti Hospital, donated to the Gauteng government by the mining company, was intended to provide 180 ICU beds for COVID-19 critical care. However, the investigation revealed misconduct, fraud, and corruption by the officials involved in the project. Despite the delays in the disciplinary process, which cost the provincial health department R17 million in salaries for suspended officials, the conclusion of the hearings has been welcomed by the opposition.
Gauteng DA’s health spokesperson, Jack Bloom, emphasized the need for criminal charges to be laid against both the implicated officials and the companies that benefited from the irregular contracts. He also called for political accountability for the poor decision to refurbish a hospital not owned by the provincial government. The facility, meant for COVID-19 patients in 2020, treated only a fraction of the intended number of patients and now lies abandoned and vandalized.
Premier Lesufi expressed hope that the disciplinary actions taken against the officials involved in the corruption scandal would bring closure to the regrettable episode. He reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the handling of public resources. Moving forward, it is crucial for criminal charges to be pursued to ensure justice and deter future instances of corruption within the government.
