Tembisa Hospital corruption case: Two arrested for alleged R100,000 bribe
Court appearance for Tembisa Hospital worker and Hawks sergeant over bribery charges Court appearance for Tembisa Hospital worker and Hawks sergeant over bribery charges
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A TEMBISA Hospital employee and a Hawks sergeant, appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday, facing corruption charges linked to an alleged R100 000 bribe.
The pair were identified as Zacharia Chisele, 53, a hospital official, and Sergeant Papi Tsie, 41, from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The alleged incident took place on Sunday, when both Chisele and Tsie reportedly met with a Hawks investigating officer currently involved in a case of corruption surrounding Tembisa Hospital. During this clandestine meeting, they are accused of offering the officer a cash bribe of R100,000 in an attempt to evade prosecution.
Lumka Mahanjana, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Regional Spokesperson, confirmed that the case has been postponed until 2 December for further bail investigations and applications. Both accused individuals will remain in custody.
Details surrounding the investigation reveal that on Friday, November 21, Tsie approached a Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) officer, claiming that Chisele wanted to discuss how to navigate the ongoing investigation. It was alleged that Tsie suggested that Chisele was willing to pay a bribe to avoid facing justice.
The revelations emerged on Sunday, November 23, when the alleged bribe was handed over during a meeting authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Following this operation, both men were taken into custody by the DPCI’s Serious Corruption Investigation unit, marking a pivotal step in rooting out corruption from within the ranks of those responsible for protecting public interests.
Hawks Acting National Head Siphosihle Nkosi addressed the issue, assuring the public that the investigation into corruption at Tembisa Hospital would proceed without impediment. “We also emphasise that those within the DPCI who involve themselves in criminal activities will be rooted out of the organisation,” Nkosi stated, underscoring the commitment to restoring public trust.
The alarming arrests coincide with increasing public demand for the Department of Health to expedite the blacklisting of companies involved in the fraudulent siphoning of more than R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital. Among those implicated in this expansive corruption scandal are high-profile figures, including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew, Hangwani Maumela, and notorious tenderpreneur Vusimuzi Cat Matlala.
The Tembisa case highlights the urgency for effective measures against corruption and the necessity for accountability within healthcare institutions, which are intended to serve the public with integrity.