Tembisa Hospital report: Health minister flirts with death penalty [video]
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Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi launched a scathing attack on the “thugs” who killed whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
Speaking on Monday, 29 September, at the release of the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) interim report into corruption at Tembisa Hospital, he said crimes of this nature can make the death penalty feel justified.
The report revealed that more than R2 billion, earmarked for healthcare services, was misappropriated through fraudulent contracts.
“THUGS ARE RUNNING AMOK” – MOTSOALEDI
Motsoaledi said the people who killed Deokaran are driving Lamborghinis and living a free life, while public servants are hiding and whistleblowers are dying. He questioned the state of the country, saying that thugs are running amok.
“When things like this happen, we start appreciating why the Chinese execute people to remove them from society. You start appreciating it. I’m not saying we can do it, we are a different country, but you start appreciating and understanding why they go to that extent,” said Motsoaledi.
[WATCH] “The people who killed Babita Deokaran are driving Lamborghini Urus. When things like this happen, you start appreciating why the Chinese execute people…” – Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi #SIUpic.twitter.com/1mQiqQDLTR
Deokaran, a senior official in the Gauteng Health Department’s finance unit, had raised the alarm over suspicious payments from Tembisa Hospital before she was gunned down outside her home in August 2021.
15 OFFICIALS IMPLICATED IN TEMBISA HOSPITAL REPORT
The SIU’s findings implicate more than 15 current and former employees in corruption, money laundering, and collusion. Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, described the revelations as “serious and very concerning.”
He said that the findings reveal acts of criminality, which are a profound breach of public confidence and an unacceptable diversion of much-needed health resources from the most vulnerable members of society.
“Some of these officials supported the syndicates with impunity, and there must be consequences. Such criminality cannot go unpunished,” said Dr Dhlomo.
He added that the committee would engage with the Department of Health and the SIU for further briefings on the findings and progress of the investigation.
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