THE South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has welcomed the suspension of senior health officials following the recently exposed skinny jeans saga.
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Gauteng department of health, Lerato Madyo, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, Ashley Mthunzi have been suspended following the News24 exposé.
In a statement Saftu General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi said, “It has become apparent through investigative reporting that these individuals are facing serious allegations of corruption, and their suspension was long overdue.
“They are implicated in the misuse and looting of more than R800 million in Gauteng’s Health Department, with specific transactions that illustrate conniving of friends and couples, and sheer acts of corruption at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
“Babita Deokaran, who had become the acting chief financial officer at Gauteng Health Department, was killed in cold blood for flagging out suspicious transactions in the department.
READ: ’Masterminds still out there’
Saftu also said that in another transaction flagged by Deokaran before being assassinated, R500 000 was looted in procuring 200 skinny jeans for girls aged 5 – 7 years, at insanely inflated prices. A different couple established 10 shell companies and pocketed a total of R15 million in contracts from Tembisa Tertiary Hospital.
“It has become clear that her killing was in connection to some of the corrupt contracts in the Health Department in Gauteng. The investigation must unearth this web of killers.
“The killing of Babita cannot go severely unpunished as it will reinforce the idea that officials in government and private corporations who want to act against corruption can be killed without consequences.
SAFTU calls for Justice for Babita Deokaran and calls for measures to be taken to protect Martha Ngoye, and all other whistle-blowers living in fear. The corrupt officials who masterminded the killing of Babita Deokaran must be exposed, arrested and be given harsher sentences,” said Vavi.
