SA’s ailing health depts

BAD SHAPE: ABOUT 50 CORRUPTION CASES DOCUMENTED IN PROVINCES

Eastern Cape registers the highest number with 15 graft incidents reported.

Since January 2023, nearly 50 cases of corruption have been documented across various health departments in all provinces except for the North West.

This is according to Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla.

In a parliamentary response, he revealed that out of the total 47 cases, some were being reported to the South African Police Service (Saps).

Phaahla said the Eastern Cape health department recorded 15 corruption cases, the highest of all provinces, with four being concluded while three were still under investigation.

“There is one case in which there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations of corruption. In the remaining seven cases, the investigation process is under way,” he said in response to a question by Democratic Alliance MP Michéle Clarke.

Phaahla said the amount of funds lost through alleged corrupt practices has not yet been quantified.

He said the provincial department had initiated legal proceedings on the matter relating to the issuing of fraudulent medical certificates.

In the Free State, at least eight cases of corruption involving R2.8 million were recorded.

So far, four employees have been dismissed, while four people resigned and two others were undergoing disciplinary processes.

The police are investigating three cases and five are in court.

The minister said Limpopo had eight corruption cases involving R1.2 million.

Seven cases have been completed, while the investigation in one case was still under way.

“Fraud allegations in the three cases could not be proved and, as a result, they were closed.

“Of the remaining four, an internal disciplinary process is under way.”

Phaahla said two cases have been referred to the police.

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had six corruption cases each.

In KZN, the money lost was just above R280 000. Officials involved have been subjected to disciplinary processes.

“An amount of R138 741 was recovered,” he said.

The financial loss suffered by the Gauteng health department has yet to be quantified.

“The investigations are under way as a result of no-consequence management that has been implemented,” he said.

A Northern Cape health department official was convicted for accepting a R10 000 bribe.

He was found guilty and fined R120 000 or three years’ imprisonment after his case was reported to the police.

“The two years of the sentence was suspended for five years,” said Phaahla.