DA to Picket Lesufi’s Office Demanding Blacklisting of Firms in R2 Billion Tembisa Hospital Scandal
Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng is ramping up pressure on Premier Panyaza Lesufi to blacklist service providers linked to the massive looting scandal at Tembisa Hospital. The party plans to hold a picket outside the Premier’s office on Thursday, 21 November 2025, where they will hand over a memorandum outlining their demands for accountability and the recovery of over R2 billion in stolen funds. DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Dr Jack Bloom stressed the urgency, saying some implicated companies are still landing contracts despite the fraud.
This latest push comes amid growing outrage over the scandal, which has exposed deep-rooted corruption in the province’s health system. With no firms blacklisted yet and key officials suspended, the case highlights ongoing failures to hold wrongdoers to account, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for mismanaged public money.
Explosive Revelations in the Tembisa Hospital Scandal
The Tembisa Hospital looting saga burst into the open in 2022 after whistleblower Babita Deokaran was assassinated for exposing irregular tenders worth millions. Investigations revealed over R2 billion siphoned off through dodgy deals with 207 service providers, many of whom supplied overpriced or unnecessary goods like gloves, cleaning materials, and medical equipment.
Deokaran, the hospital’s chief financial officer, had flagged suspicious payments before her murder in August 2021. Her death led to arrests, but the core issues persist. A forensic probe uncovered inflated contracts, ghost services, and kickbacks, with some firms linked to politically connected individuals. Despite this, none of the providers have faced blacklisting by National Treasury, allowing them to bid on new government work.
The scandal has cost lives and strained healthcare, with hospital staff reporting shortages while funds vanished. It ties into broader Gauteng health woes, including poor infrastructure and service delivery failures that have left patients suffering.
DA’s Protest and Key Demands
The DA’s picket aims to force action on what they call a “culture of impunity” under Lesufi’s watch. Dr Bloom outlined the party’s stance: “Some of these companies are still getting contracts and they should be blacklisted. They should speed up the process of blacklisting by National Treasury. Even if they’re not blacklisted by Treasury, they should all be put on a watchlist. That’s the easiest way to handle this in the immediate term. And that if any of these companies apply for a contract, you obviously scrutinise it very carefully and deny it.”
The memorandum will call for the immediate blacklisting of all implicated firms, recovery of stolen funds, and stricter oversight on tenders. The party also demands the removal of Gauteng Health Head of Department Lesiba Malotana, who was suspended in October 2025 over his role in the mess. They argue his leadership failed to stop the rot, allowing corruption to thrive.
This is not the DA’s first clash with Lesufi. In October 2025, they tabled a motion of no confidence against him over alleged illegal spending on programmes like the Amapanyaza crime wardens. While that bid failed, the Tembisa issue adds weight to their push for change.
Government Response and Ongoing Suspensions
Premier Lesufi has defended his administration, but actions speak louder. Malotana’s suspension came after probes linked him to approving questionable deals. He remains on full pay while investigations drag on, a point critics say wastes more public money.
The Gauteng Department of Health has admitted it lacks power to blacklist suppliers directly, relying on National Treasury. This gap has allowed implicated firms to continue operating, with some still securing contracts in other provinces. Officials promise speedier processes, but delays persist amid legal hurdles and appeals from companies.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has weighed in on similar scandals, calling for lifestyle audits of officials to root out graft. In Gauteng, anti-corruption units are probing, but convictions remain low, fuelling public distrust.
Echoes from Other Groups and Wider Calls for Action
The DA is not alone in demanding justice. ActionSA has slammed the health department for dodging responsibility, saying the failure to blacklist lets looters off the hook. The Public Servants Association echoed this on 18 November 2025, urging immediate blacklisting to protect public funds.
Civil society groups and unions have joined the chorus, linking the scandal to broader healthcare collapses like medicine shortages and crumbling facilities. They call for independent audits and victim compensation, noting Deokaran’s family still seeks closure.
The Tembisa case mirrors national issues, like the Life Esidimeni tragedy where oversight lapses cost lives. It underscores the need for stronger anti-corruption laws and faster Treasury blacklisting to deter future theft.
What This Means for Gauteng’s Future
As the picket looms, eyes are on Lesufi to respond. Blacklisting could recover funds and rebuild trust, but inaction risks more protests and electoral backlash. For patients at Tembisa and beyond, real change means better services, not more scandals.
The DA vows to keep pushing, saying Gauteng deserves leaders who prioritise people over protection rackets. With billions lost, the fight for accountability is far from over, and Thursday’s action could mark a turning point in holding the powerful to task.
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