Former Gauteng health MEC Brian Hlongwa, who was facing corruption, fraud and money-laundering charges linked to his time at the provincial health department, has died.
Image: Leah Angel
Former Gauteng MEC for Health Brian Hlongwa has died, the provincial government has confirmed. The former ANC chief whip in the Gauteng Legislature died in hospital following an illness.
Hlongwa served as Gauteng’s health MEC between 2006 and 2009 and later became chief whip of the ANC in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. He stepped aside from active politics several years ago after being implicated in a wide-ranging corruption investigation linked to his time at the health department.
The former MEC was facing multiple criminal charges, including corruption, fraud and money laundering, arising from alleged irregular contracts and payments involving the Gauteng Department of Health.
Prosecutors alleged that billions of rand were lost through unlawful dealings with service providers during his tenure.
Hlongwa consistently denied the allegations and maintained his innocence. At the time of his death, the case against him had not yet been finalised.
The African National Congress in Gauteng said it had learned of his passing with sadness and extended condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Hlongwa’s death brings to an end one of the longest-running corruption cases linked to the provincial health sector, which has been under scrutiny for years over governance failures and the misuse of public funds.
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