Urgent call to prosecute Tembisa Hospital corruption syndicates

THE Tembisa Hospital scandal has ignited a firestorm of criticism and prompted urgent calls for accountability.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI

As revelations of corruption and mismanagement surface, politicians and analysts alike are demanding that those responsible face criminal penalties, a sentiment growing increasingly loud amid characterisations of South Africa descending into a “mafia state”.

This follows a damning Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report exposing the looting of over R2 billion at Tembisa Hospital, with companies allegedly linked to Vusi “Cat” Matlala and Morgan Maumela at the centre of the scandal. The scandal echoes the warnings of whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who flagged R850 million in suspicious payments before she was gunned down in 2021.

While many of the officials implicated in the scandal have quietly resigned, only 11 have so far faced disciplinary action.

Political analyst Sandile Swana said corruption has long been entrenched in the ANC, with senior cadres benefiting from the abuse of state tenders, which has made accountability nearly impossible.