Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has suspended Lesiba Arnold Malotana, the head of the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness, as investigations intensify into large-scale corruption and irregular tenders at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, forms part of what Lesufi calls a “renewed commitment to accountability and ethical leadership” in one of the province’s most scrutinised departments.
In the interim, Dr Darion Barclay, currently the head of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), has been appointed as the acting head of the Health Department to ensure what government describes as “stability and continuity” in service delivery.
“Eliminating corruption is not just about replacing people; it’s about rebuilding trust,” said Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Gauteng Provincial Government. “Dr Barclay’s appointment highlights the importance of prioritising seamless service delivery while maintaining transparency in the department’s operations.”
Tembisa Hospital Corruption Scandal: The Fallout Continues
The Tembisa Hospital corruption saga remains one of South Africa’s most alarming public sector scandals, continuing to send shockwaves through Gauteng’s healthcare system.
The controversy first came to national attention after the tragic murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran in August 2021. Deokaran, a senior Gauteng Health official, had flagged suspicious payments worth hundreds of millions of rand to obscure suppliers linked to the hospital’s procurement processes.
Subsequent investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) uncovered fraudulent tenders valued at over R2 billion, involving inflated contracts for everything from medical supplies to luxury office furniture — and even casual wear items such as skinny jeans.
At the centre of the scandal were the hospital’s former CEO, Ashley Mthunzi (who passed away last year), and chief financial officer, Lerato Madyo, both implicated in irregular procurement and supplier manipulation schemes.
The findings painted a grim picture of systemic corruption within the provincial health department — a culture of mismanagement that allegedly allowed billions in public funds to be siphoned off through ghost suppliers and sham contracts.
Lesufi’s Accountability Drive and the Push for Reform
Premier Lesufi’s administration has faced mounting public pressure to act decisively against corruption in Gauteng’s health sector.
In a statement from the Premier’s Office, Lesufi said the suspension of Malotana forms part of a broader effort to restore confidence in government institutions and ensure that those in senior leadership positions are held accountable.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to root out maladministration and uphold the highest standards of accountability and ethical leadership,” the statement read.
Lesufi also announced that on Thursday, the performance agreements of all Members of the Executive Council (MECs) will be made public — a move intended to promote transparency and measureable accountability across departments.
Meanwhile, the SIU is expected to brief the provincial executive later this month on progress in recovering funds lost through fraudulent contracts not only at Tembisa Hospital but also at other provincial health facilities.
What’s Next for Gauteng’s Health Department
While Malotana’s suspension is being hailed as a long-overdue step toward accountability, it has also raised questions about how deep the rot in Gauteng’s public healthcare system runs.
Analysts warn that the corruption at Tembisa Hospital could represent only a fraction of a wider pattern of financial misconduct across the department. There are growing calls for the provincial government to conduct independent forensic audits into all major health facilities to prevent further abuses.
The SIU’s next report is expected to shed light on whether additional senior officials could soon face suspension or prosecution as the investigation widens.
For now, Lesufi’s government is positioning itself as taking a firm stand against the misuse of public funds — but as Gauteng residents know too well, trust once broken in public healthcare takes more than words to restore.
