'Prosecute Tembisa syndicate over R2bn graft'

Politicians and analysts alike are demanding that those responsible face criminal penalties

- MASABATA MKWANANZI AND PULE MAKGALE

THE Tembisa Hospital scandal has ignited a firestorm of criticism against the Government of National Unity (GNU) and prompted urgent calls for accountability.

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 African National Congress (ANC), with senior cadres benefiting from the abuse of state tenders, which has made accountability nearly impossible.

Swana referred to a quote by the-then secretary-general of the African National Congress, Kgalema Motlanthe, who stated:

"This rot is across the board. It's not confined to any level or any area of the country. Almost every project is conceived because it offers opportunities for certain people to make money. A great deal of the ANC's problems are occasioned by this.

"As Bathabile Dlamini once admitted, every ANC member has small skeletons. But this corruption continues despite being expressly prohibited by the Public Finance Management Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act and other anti-corruption laws," he explained.