Johannesburg - On Friday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, and the DA Tembisa South Constituency Head, Refiloe Nt’sekhe, will lead a picket outside Tembisa Hospital.
The party will be calling for the immediate suspension of the hospital chief executive Ashley Mthunzi, and a speedy investigation into fishy contracts worth more than R800-million that were identified by murdered whistle-blower Babita Deokaran.
More than two weeks ago, allegedly suspicious contracts were exposed.
According to a News24 investigation, the hospital paid nearly R60-million to 20 fake companies controlled by four people. The payments were all under R500 000, using a loophole as contracts over this amount have to go out on tender.
It was further revealed that between May and June last year, 129 contracts were awarded to these companies at a rate of nearly three per day and items included 2 000 hand towels costing R230 each, and 100 bonded leather wingback chairs purchased for R495 000.
“This money should have been spent on fixing the poor conditions for patients at this overcrowded hospital,” the party said.
The Star