The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it has recovered R13.5 million from Tembisa Hospital nurse Zacharia Chisele, 53, who was arrested this week after allegedly attempting to bribe a Hawks investigating officer.
Chisele, an employee at the hospital, was arrested as part of the SIU’s ongoing probe into procurement irregularities at the Gauteng health facility. According to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, investigators uncovered that Chisele received unlawful payments from various service providers between January 1, 2020 and September 1, 2023.
“In April 2025, the SIU referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) for criminal prosecution and asset recovery,” Kganyago said.
He confirmed that in November 2025, Chisele paid R13,530,904.27 to the SIU, representing a portion of the proceeds of corruption identified during the probe. The SIU’s civil efforts to recover the remaining funds are ongoing.
The unit has so far identified corrupt payments totalling R122,228,000 involving officials and employees within the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) and Tembisa Hospital. At least 15 current and former officials have been linked to corruption, money laundering, collusion and bid rigging. More suspects are expected to be identified as investigations progress.
“The officials range from entry-level clerks to management-level staff,” Kganyago added.
To date, the SIU has prepared 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials, including 108 submitted to the GDOH for maladministration and irregular appointment of service providers.
The investigation is being conducted under Proclamation No. 136 of 2023, which authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption at the GDOH and Tembisa Hospital. The SIU has also referred criminal evidence to the NPA and is empowered to approach the courts to recover state losses.
The developments follow the arrests of Chisele and Hawks officer Sergeant Papi Tsie, 41. The pair briefly appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday on corruption charges.
It is alleged that on Friday, November 21, Tsie approached a DPCI officer claiming that Chisele wanted help avoiding prosecution in the hospital corruption case and was willing to offer gratification. On Sunday, November 25, Tsie and Chisele allegedly met the investigating officer and handed over R100,000 in cash. The operation, authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions, led to their immediate arrest by the DPCI’s Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.
NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the matter was postponed to December 2 for bail investigations and a bail application. Both suspects remain in custody.
Hawks Acting National Head Siphosihle Nkosi said corruption investigations at Tembisa Hospital would continue “without deterrence,” adding that any DPCI members involved in criminal activity would be removed.
Pressure continues to mount on the Department of Health to blacklist companies linked to the more than R2 billion looted from Tembisa Hospital. Among the syndicates previously implicated were Hangwani Maumela, a nephew of President Cyril Ramaphosa from a previous marriage, and controversial tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
