SAPS, health department deny alleged arrest of 8
MBOMBELA - Conflicting reports were received regarding the alleged arrest of eight officials of the Mpumalanga Department of Health who were allegedly involved in a dodgy pharmaceutical tender deal worth R648 million.
The EFF reported on June 8 that the eight department officials, including the acting HOD and two bid committee members, were detained by the police in Mbombela after the party had opened a case of fraud and corruption for alleged participation in the irregular appointment of a company to manage, store and distribute medicines to all health facilities in the province.
“The arrest comes after the EFF in Mpumalanga opened a fraud and corruption case against eight officials, including the acting HOD, Duduzile Mdluli, the CFO, Phaswa Mamogane, and six bid evaluation and bid adjudication committee members,” reported the EFF’s provincial leader, Collen Sedibe.
“The officials allegedly participated in the irregular appointment of a company for tender number Heal/228/21/MP,” he said. “The company does not meet the mandatory requirements for the tender worth R648 million for outsourcing of procurement management, warehousing and distribution of pharmaceuticals and surgical sundries, and the management of information for the provincial Department of Health for a period of three years,” Sedibe continued.
The Department of Health, on the other hand, was quick to deny knowledge of any of its officials having been arrested as Sedibe had claimed. “Unfortunately, we do not know any of the officials of the department that have been arrested on these allegations,” the department's media liaison officer, Christopher Nobela, said. “However, a case has been opened and the matter is under investigation.”
In a statement issued by the police after Lowvelder had made further enquiries, the provincial police spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi, also denied the arrests.
“The Mpumalanga police would like to categorically state that they did not arrest any official of the Department of Health as depicted in the media statement issued by the EFF,” he said. “However, it is true that there is a fraud and corruption case that has been laid by the political party at the Nelspruit Police Station last week, and an investigation thereof is under way.
“The relevant complainant has been duly informed about the developments of the investigation, and currently, the police are obtaining statements and will in all material times closely work with the NPA for guidance on this matter.”