The Hawks in Gauteng conducted a raid at the corruption embroiled Tembisa Hospital on Tuesday as part of the irregular procurement of contracts worth R850 million.
Hawks raid
Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale said they were collecting documents and electronic gadgets in relation to the fraud and corruption investigations at the hospital.
“A search and seizure operation was conducted by the Gauteng Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation based on information received from irregular contracts awarded by Supply Chain management at Tembisa Hospital to 217 service providers,” said Mogale.
Skinny jeans purchase
The spotlight into unlawful procurement of multiple tenders by the hospital was shone after slain whistleblower, Babita Deokaran flagged financial irregularities months before her death.
ALSO READ: Boerewors and boots among R100m contracts ANC treasurer scored from Gauteng hospitals
A report by News24 revealed that Deokaran noticed a transaction of R498 000 was spent on 200 pairs of skinny jeans.
She also uncovered other multiple dubious contracts within the Gauteng Health Department. She was assassinated outside her Mondeor home in Johannesburg.
“It is alleged that there were existing untoward practices in relation to contracts below R 500 000 between 2016 and 2022. These are reported to have been conducted or allocated in an unlawful and illegal manner and this has resulted in the hospital being prejudiced over R850 million,” added Mogale.
Mogale said in some of the contracts, the hospital’s employees also received gratification.
Contract awarded to ex-soccer star
It emerged that the contract that made the skinny jeans transaction was awarded to Inez Chaste. It was run by former professional soccer player Themba Shabalala and his wife Evelyn.
Inez Chaste was awarded the contract despite only being formed a month earlier. It was also one of 10 shell companies owned by either Themba or Evelyn. These 10 companies formed a network of around 45 shell corporations that received more than R110 million in contracts from the hospital in just two months.
These purchases were signed off by suspended hospital’s CEO, Ashley Mthunzi who had the power to sign off any amount less than R500 000.
The amounts did not have to go out as tenders.
Additional information by Gareth Cotterell
NOW READ: Health department denies Tembisa Hospital CEO was facing charges when appointed
