Hawks swoop on Health dept again
IN LINE with the government’s commitment to prosecute those who unduly benefited from Covid-19-related crimes, particularly the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Northern Cape served 11 suspects and two companies (juristic persons) with warrants of arrest on October 11.
The suspects are accused of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), fraud, corruption and money laundering ater the Northern Cape Department of Health suffered a loss of R26 960 025.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Lieutenant-colonel Tebogo Thebe said the arrests were the direct result of collaborative efforts between the Hawks, the Special Investigating Unit and the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
All the suspects made a brief appearance before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on October 11.
Thebe noted that seven of the Northern Cape Department of Health officials are the same group that was arrested on the same charges on August 22.
Accused 1 is the former head of department (HOD) of the Northern Cape Department of Health, who was the acting accounting officer during the commission of the alleged crime, Dr Dion Theys, 56.
Accused 2 is Daniel Mosimanigape, 54, the chief financial officer of the department.
Accused 3 is Victor Nyokong, 41, who served as the deputy director of finance.
Accused 4 and 5 are Montgomery Lifa, 39, and Siyabolela Booi, 38, both of whom are attached to the supply chain management section.
Accused 6 and 7 are Goitemodimo Piet Moseki, 50, and Dibueng Manyetsa, 63, both of whom are attached to the communicable disease section.
Accused 8 and 9 are Somandla Sibisi, 41, and Cleopatra Norman, 37, the director and the administrative
clerk, respectively, of Macronym (Pty) Ltd (juristic person).
Accused 10 and 11 are Obakeng Samane, 42, and Kgololo Mampe, 37, the director and driver of Masedi Star (Pty) Ltd.
Accused number 6, 10 and 11 were all granted bail of R2,000 each.
All the other accused, most of whom are Department of Health officials, were granted bail of R10,000 each.
The matter was postponed to January 29, 2024, for further investigation.
The provincial head of the Hawks, Major-general Stephen Mabuela, welcomed the arrests and noted that Covid-19-related crimes gave South Africa a bad name domestically and internationally.
“The government has made a commitment to prosecute those involved. Our role as the Hawks is to properly investigate the allegations and bring matters to court. We remain undeterred,” concluded Mabuela.