Gauteng Government has placed 9 senior officials in the Department of Health and the Department of Infrastructure Development on precautionary suspension on the recommendation of the Special Investigating Unit
Provincial government spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga says the officials were suspended in connection with serious irregularities in the awarding of contracts for the refurbishment of AngloGold Ashanti Hospital in the West Rand.
“The SIU has, in terms of a proclamation issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2020, been investigating allegations of irregularities and maladministration in the procurement of goods and services related to the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
On December 2021, the SIU made referrals to the Gauteng provincial government to institute disciplinary action against the nine senior managers who were implicated in irregularities in the awarding of contractors for the refurbishment of the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital, which was one of the hospitals earmarked for the treatment of Covid-19,” gauteng government said in a statement .
“The SIU also made referrals to other state institutions for further investigation into the conduct of the implicated government officials and contractors.”
“The Gauteng provincial government continues to forge ahead with the fight against fraud and corruption, and the drive to build a culture of integrity and ethics among public officials, public servants, businesspeople and civil society,” the statement reads.
Mhaga says the provincial government in 2016 adopted the Gauteng City-Region Integrity Management Policy Framework — underpinned by the Gauteng Anti-Corruption Strategy — to build a culture of integrity among public officials, public servants, business people, and civil society.
“The provincial government has strengthened control systems to prevent fraud and corruption while it has improved capacity to detect, investigate and take appropriate action including instituting disciplinary action against staff, referring matters for criminal investigation and initiating processes to recover stolen money,” Mhaga said.
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