ANC regional treasurer in ‘fishy’ tender deals
NEW details have emerged that ANC Ekurhuleni regional treasurer Sello Sekhokho scored more than R80 million in tenders from other hospitals in Gauteng in spite of having no valid certificate to sell medical products.
This damning evidence was revealed by the Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-ralehoko in her written reply to questions from the DA’S Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom in the provincial legislature.
In the past months, Nkomo-ralehoko revealed that Sekhokho’s three companies, Kaizen Projects, Nokhokhoko Medical Supplies and Bollanoto Security, had received R14.5m in 55 contracts from Tembisa Hospital alone in the past years.
The latest replies were related to other hospitals in Gauteng, in which Nkomo-ralehoko confirmed that Sekhokho had also benefited and the amounts were higher compared to Tembisa Hospital.
Nkomo-ralehoko said a total of 225 contracts were awarded in the last three years to Kaizen Projects, Nokhokhoko Medical Supplies and Bollanoto Security. They amount to about R84m.
“These payments were to hospitals other than Tembisa Hospital, whereas in a previous reply to my questions it was disclosed that the three companies got R14.5m in 55 contracts from Tembisa Hospital in the last three years.
“Adding them together, there are a total of 280 contracts worth about R98.5m awarded to Sekhokho’s three companies.”
Reacting to the revelations, Bloom said it was poignant that this bombshell information was revealed on Wednesday, when the family of murdered Gauteng health official Babita Deokaran commemorated what would have been her 54th birthday.
She raised the alarm over suspicious payments to Sekhokho’s companies by Tembisa Hospital, but according to news reports, she was allegedly instructed by then health CFO Lerato Madyo to pay the companies and keep it secret.
Madyo is now suspended along with the Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi, and the SIU is investigating the payments to fishy companies that Deokaran flagged as “possibly fraudulent”.
Bloom said Nkomo-ralehoko gave a table in her reply that indicated only R4.6m was paid to the companies, but that was contradicted by the appendices which indicate a far higher amount.
Nkomo-ralehoko said that none of the companies had SA Health Products Regulatory Authority approval for the sale of medical products, and “a number of irregularities were noted after the audit/assessment of internal controls”.
“A quick perusal of the payments shows blatant overcharging and fishy purchases,” Bloom said.
“Bollanoto Security provided no security services, but sold a wide variety of goods and even food supplies. This includes 108 ‘rainsuits’ of various sizes for men and women, at a total cost of R1.88m. This is R17 000 for each rainsuit.”