Africa-Press – South-Africa. Gauteng Premier David Makhura has dismissed allegations he benefitted from monies siphoned from Tembisa Hospital through improper procurements and payments of service providers.
Makhura said while he expected criticism as a public servant, allegations levelled against him were part of a smear campaign driven by “criminal elements” attempting to divert attention from the ongoing investigation of misappropriation of funds.
A News24 investigative series, Silenced, probed a trove of Gauteng Department of Health emails and documents obtained through hundreds of company searches, revealing a nexus of entities geared at extracting cash from the hospital’s coffers.
The department’s internal probe of the hospital – set in motion after the late whistle blower Babita Deokaran flagged nearly R850 million in dubious payments – was concluded in less than a week, and auditors were pulled on day she was assassinated.
The hospital’s chief financial officer Lerato Madyo and its head, Ashley Mthunzi, were placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect.
On Friday, IOL reported about Makhura’s alleged “ties” to businessman Siyabonga Masuku, reported to be a “big beneficiary”.
The report claimed Makhura orchestrated Mthunzi’s suspension after he allegedly refused to award tenders to provincial ANC heavyweights.
On Friday, he said he did not know anyone by the name of Siyabonga Masuku.
Makhura also denied doing business with government entities.
He said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into the allegations were sensitive, considering possible links to Deokaran’s murder.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
