News24 | SIU finds R2bn was extracted from Tembisa Hospital

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has identified seven extraction syndicates which took root at Tembisa Hospital and extracted more than R2 billion.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has identified seven extraction syndicates which took root at Tembisa Hospital and extracted more than R2 billion.

At a press briefing at the East Rand hospital on Monday, SIU boss Andy Mothibi made public an interim report, three years after the probe – set in motion by now-slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran – began.

“This staggering sum of money intended for the provision of healthcare at Tembisa Hospital, to take care of the most vulnerable, was instead ruthlessly siphoned off through a complex web of fraud and money laundering,” he said.

Chief among the syndicate leaders was Hangwani Morgan Maumela, the nephew of President Cyril Ramaphosa from a previous marriage.

Through a network of companies, the Maumela syndicate banked more than R816 million through 1 728 purchase orders.

Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, whose three companies formed part of Maumela’s syndicate, was paid nearly R15 million.

The “Mazibuko syndicate”, as named by Mothibi, extracted R283 million from the facility.

Another grouping, which Mothibi called “Syndicate X”, was paid more than R596 million through more than 1 000 purchase orders.

Mothibi said at least four other smaller syndicates were identified and that the investigation remained ongoing.

These dubious purchase orders were enabled by pliant officials, with the SIU finding that R122 million in kickbacks were paid into accounts linked to Gauteng Health employees.

This is a developing story.