About this case study: This narrative explains the nature of corrupt activities relating to high-profile cases, and is produced in the public interest. It relies on the final reports from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption, and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State (the Zondo Commission), court documents, books, investigative journalism reporting, and other media articles, all in the public domain. The ISS has made all reasonable attempts to report the details accurately. Details for the cases in the Zondo Commission reports are provided up to December 2023. Further updates are in the ‘Recent Case Updates’ section below.
The StoryGauteng Department of Health - Tembisa Hospital
Summary
Timeline
Key Players
Babita Deokaran was assassinated on 23 August 2021 after discovering R850m worth of questionable payments that emanated from procurement irregularities at Tembisa Hospital. The Gauteng Department of Health (Gauteng Health) has been implicated in numerous corruption scandals both prior to and after Deokaran’s murder. A preliminary investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) led to the suspension of Tembisa Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Ashley Mthunzi, and Gauteng Health’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Lerato Madyo. Based on its preliminary findings, the SIU is currently conducting an investigation into corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
2020 |
Deokaran had been a whistleblower for the SIU for many years, and had been a key witness in the SIU’s investigation into personal protective equipment tender fraud worth R332m at Gauteng Health during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Senior officials were suspended or dismissed after being implicated in this corruption included former Gauteng Health Member of the Executive Council (MEC) Bandile Masuku, Head of Department Professor Mkhululi Lukhele and CFO Kabelo Lehloenya. |
2021 |
Deokaran discovered that, between April and June, 1 203 purchase orders valued between R400 000 and R500 000 had been processed at Tembisa Hospital. This was nearly triple the number of purchase orders for the nine largest hospitals in Gauteng combined during the same period.
Gauteng Health hospital CEOs can sign off on procurements below R500 000 without the need for more rigorous procurement processes. Around the beginning of August, Deokaran prepared a report regarding hundreds of possible fraudulent payments made to 217 service providers at Tembisa. Deokaran flagged that in a single month, goods and services for Tembisa accounted for R239 million, 25% more than Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, which is four times the size of Tembisa. Deokaran reported these suspicions to Gauteng Health CFO Lerato Madyo, calling for an immediate investigation and a stop on payments worth R104m. On the morning of 11 August, Deokaran sent a WhatsApp message to Madyo expressing fear that her life might be in danger: “Morning CFO, I am just worried that the guys in Tembisa are going to realise we are not releasing their payments and know that we on to something. Our lives could be in danger.” Madyo replied that she had requested the Gauteng Health Head of Department to approve an investigation. The Head of Department at the time, Dr Sibongile Zungu, allegedly told News24 that Madyo had never requested this investigation. On 23 August, Deokaran was shot and killed outside her home in Johannesburg. On 27 August, seven suspects were arrested in connection with Deokaran’s murder. In September, an internal audit prompted by Deokaran’s report looked into a random sample of 18 payments out of the 1 023 flagged by Deokaran and found that all of them were irregular. The internal audit also found that: “there were no properly implemented controls for vendor evaluation to prevent or detect fictitious suppliers; companies provided the same price, down to the rand, for completely different products; all purchase orders examined were just below R500 000; and within the hospital, procurement staff knowingly used expired BBBEE and tax certificates in an attempt to legitimise the orders.” The internal audit report, which called for an investigation into supply chain management processes at Tembisa Hospital, was handed to Tembisa Hospital CEO Dr Ashley Mthunzi who was responsible for signing off on the purchase orders under scrutiny. |
2022 |
In August, Dr Mthunzi and Madyo were placed on precautionary suspension with full pay while facing disciplinary inquiries on 13 misconduct charges each.
In early December, the Gauteng Hawks conducted a search and seizure at Tembisa Hospital. On December 14, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced at a media conference that he was in possession of a preliminary report by the SIU on Tembisa Hospital. Lesufi revealed the following from the preliminary report:
The preliminary SIU report reflected four main beneficiaries of the irregular payments from Tembisa:
The SIU report reportedly recommended the following service providers be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for providing Gauteng Health with false information: Magnolia Trading, Sokhana Trading and Supplies, Preliboo, Roguepalm, Stotleari, Hynoforce, and Fairg Holdings. Based on the findings of this preliminary report, the SIU applied for a Presidential Proclamation to further investigate supply chain management at Tembisa Hospital. |
2023 |
In early August, Gauteng Health suspended six of the nine officials implicated in the SIU’s report: Duduzile Nobugwana (administration clerk), Vuyani Chako (physiotherapist), NL Kobe (financial clerk), DE Monnakgotla (nursing assistant manager), Puleng Mtuze (financial clerk) and Vuyikazi Mtwezi (food service manager). Three others – MA Maphumulo (chief physiotherapist), Dr Radulescu (medical officer) and LH Mojela (supply chain director) – had already left the hospital before action could be taken against them.
On 22 August, six men accused of murdering Deokaran pleaded guilty in the Gauteng High Court. Following a plea and sentence agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority, the men were sentenced as follows:
In sworn affidavits, the accused disclosed that the assassination had been meticulously planned and that images of Deokaran’s place of residence and vehicle were sent to a man identified as Khanyisani Mpungose. Mpungose was reportedly shot dead months after he was involved in Deokaran’s murder. The SIU released a statement welcoming the sentencing and stating that they support and hail ‘the efforts by South African Police Service in particular the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) and the NPA in the further investigation to trace the mastermind behind the murder of Babita Deokaran.’ In September, Presidential Proclamation no. 136 announced the terms of reference of the SIU’s investigation into Tembisa Hospital as follows:
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2024 |
Dr Mthunzi died in April, having been paid R2.5m while suspended. He was still undergoing a disciplinary inquiry, which had lasted almost two years. Madyo has drawn nearly R3m in salary while on suspension.
The SIU investigation is ongoing as of June 2024. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that they expected to conclude the investigation in November, but an ‘extension of the deadline is a consideration due to the complexity of the investigation and the considerable amount of evidence’. |
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Dr Ashley MthunziTembisa Hospital Chief Executive Officer Alleged misconduct: Authorised irregular purchase order requests at Tembisa Hospital. Status of accountabilitySuspended in August 2022 following the SIU’s recommendations. His disciplinary hearing was suspended at least three times and had not taken place by the time of his death on 23 April 2024. |
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Lerato MadyoGauteng Department of Health Chief Financial Officer Alleged misconduct: Failed to act on Deokaran’s report detailing suspicious payments and did not provide adequate financial oversight. Status of accountabilitySuspended in August 2022 following the SIU’s recommendations. Her disciplinary hearing has been suspended at least three times. As of June 2024, it has still not taken place. |
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Stefan GovindrajuBusinessman Alleged misconduct: Received R437m from irregular Tembisa Hospital contracts through a network of 60 front companies run by proxy directors. Status of accountabilityNo criminal charges have been brought against him relating to Gauteng Health. |
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Hangwani MaumelaBusinessman Alleged misconduct: Received R336m from irregular Tembisa Hospital contracts through 12 different companies. Status of accountabilityNo criminal charges have been brought against him relating to Gauteng Health. |
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Mazibuko familyAlleged misconduct: Four members of the Mazibuko family control 17 separate entities that received R249m from irregular Tembisa Hospital contracts. Status of accountabilityNo criminal charges have been brought against any of the Mazibuko family members relating to Gauteng Health. |
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Sello SekhokhoAfrican National Congress Ekurhuleni treasurer-general Alleged misconduct: Sekhokho’s companies – Kaizen Projects, Nokhokhoko Medical Supplies and Bollanoto Security – received R14.5m from 55 irregular Tembisa Hospital contracts. Status of accountabilityNo criminal charges have been brought against him relating to Gauteng Health. |
InsightISS Analysis
Our key insights on this case
1
This is a case study of extensive procurement fraud at a public hospital.
2
Collusion in the bidding process undermined the principle of fair competition central to proper procurement processes.
3
Types of criminal conduct include procurement fraud, corruption, racketeering, assault and murder.
4
Unethical conduct included pervasive conflicts of interest, poor corporate governance and probably various forms of coercion including bullying and assassination.
5
The organisational culture of Tembisa Hospital was one in which constructive dissent was discouraged and integrity was not valued, facilitating corruption.
6
This is an example of the type of corruption known as ‘theft’ or ‘plunder’, the most economically and socially destructive type of corruption.
Lessons for prevention and early intervention
1
The excessive value of goods and services paid for in one month by Tembisa Hospital, which was well above that of much larger hospitals, was a clear warning sign of potential corruption and maladministration – and Deokaran had picked this up.
2
Simultaneously, the scale, timing, arbitrary pricing and deliberate placing of orders just below the R500 000.00 threshold for competitive procurement should have been detected by officials, who should have stopped the orders and had them investigated.
3
The lack of properly implemented controls for supplier evaluation meant that their questionable credentials and bid documentation were not flagged. The fact that amongst them were Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and syndicates operating with just a few common beneficial owners behind the numerous companies involved could have been identified with proper due diligence.
4
The lack of a proper whistleblowing facility meant that when an official had reason to believe their life was in danger, they could not get the required support and protection. Instead, the silencing of a whistleblower through assassination was intended to quash further investigation and exposure of the activities of corrupt syndicates.
5
The previous history of significant corruption at the Gauteng Department of Health involving high-level officials was a red flag that systemic corruption could be an ongoing problem in this sector. This required ongoing monitoring and vigilance from authorities.
RecentCase Updates
Latest developments from news sources
- 13 April 2026: Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi reported that 57 cases relating to the COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procurement remain under investigation, six years after the pandemic began, with 32 of these cases currently before the courts.
- 11 March 2026: Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom alleged former Gauteng Department of Health CFO Lerato Madyo received ‘hush money’ from the DoH to exit amid Tembisa procurement fraud disciplinary action. The amount received by Madyo in the settlement agreement has not been disclosed, with Gauteng Health MEC Nomanttu Nkomo-Ralehoko stating the agreement included a confidentiality clause. Bloom estimated Madyo received R2 million in the settlement, on top of the R3 million received in salary while on suspension. Bloom alleged that accounting officer Lesiba Malotana authorised the settlement, and that Premier Panyaza Lesufi had knowledge of it. Bloom argued that since Madyo left the DoH with no record and ‘in good-standing’, she ‘may well have been given another high-level job’.
- 11 March 2026: Gauteng Department of Health (DoH) rejected the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) allegation that former Gauteng Department of Health CFO Lerato Madyo was paid ‘hush money’ by the department to leave her post. Gauteng DoH responded that Madyo received lawful pay while on precautionary suspension, and disciplinary proceedings were halted due to ‘evidentiary constraints’, which led to a termination agreement being reached instead. Gauteng DoH further argued that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) did not recommend Madyo for disciplinary action in their Tembisa investigation.
- 9 February 2026: The Special Tribunal ordered the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to release five luxury vehicles seized from Omars Motor Den, a dealership in Mpumalanga, during the October 2025 raid on Hangwani Maumela’s assets. Maumela was identified as the leader of one of the largest Tembisa Hospital extraction syndicates. Omars Motor Den argued that the vehicles’ eNATIS certificate showed the cars were registered under the dealership’s name, and accused the SIU of withholding this from the Tribunal. The dealership has been ordered to provide security equal to the vehicles’ value in exchange for their release until the SIU has completed its investigation.
- 2 December 2025: Hawks officer Sergeant Papi Tsie and Tembisa Hospital operations manager Zacharia Tsisele appeared in court on charges of corruption after allegedly attempting to pay a R100 000 cash bribe to an investigating officer to help Tsisele avoid prosecution in the Tembisa Hospital investigation. The SIU disclosed that Tsisele had received “unlawful gratification” between 2020 and 2023 while employed at the hospital, and that the R13.5 million Tsisele repaid to the SIU represents only a portion of the amount he allegedly received. Both men have been granted R5000 bail and have indicated they will plead not guilty.
- 20 November 2025: The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head, Advocate Andy Mothibi, revealed that some health department officials implicated in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital extraction fraud have stepped forward and voluntarily returned illegally obtained funds. These developments occurred after the SIU’s interim report on the Tembisa Hospital fraud was released in September.
- 8 November 2025: Only one of the 467 companies and individuals identified by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for their alleged involvement in the R2 billion Tembisa hospital fraud has been blacklisted by the National Treasury. As a result, allegedly corrupt companies are able to continue participating in government contracts. ActionSA has requested that the Public Protector investigate why more entities have not been blacklisted. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi indicated that the Department of Health does not have a mandate to blacklist companies or individuals, and that the SIU is in the process of submitting names to the National Treasury for blacklisting.
- 5 November 2025: Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia reported to Parliament that criminal cartels have corrupted South Africa’s health care sector, highlighting systemic corruption affecting procurement and supply chain management in multiple health facilities across the country, including beyond Tembisa Hospital. Cachalia recommended establishing a dedicated investigative body within the police to focus on procurement crimes across institutions.
- 4 November 2025: Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, stated that despite the death of Dr Ashley Mthunzi, former CEO of Tembisa Hospital, the government intends to pursue Mthunzi’s estate to recover public funds misappropriated through the Tembisa Hospital fraud.
- 30 October 2025: Tembisa Hospital is facing severe supply shortages, leaving patients without essential items such as food, medicine, and basic necessities like toilet paper. Staff have confirmed that the hospital is relying on neighbouring hospitals for food and medication deliveries.
- 27 October 2025: Hangwani Maumela, identified as the leader of one of the largest Tembisa Hospital extraction syndicates, allegedly made a payment of R52 million towards the purchase of a Pagani Huayra Roadster, an Italian ‘hypercar’. The purchase occurred months after whistleblower Babita Deokaran flagged irregular payments between Tembisa Hospital and shell companies linked to the Maumela syndicate. The purchase was subsequently abandoned when the requested specification changes for the car became too expensive, and the payment was refunded.
- 17 October 2025: Gauteng Health Head of Department, Lesiba Arnold Malotana, has challenged his suspension, which was implemented on 14 October 2025, following the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) reports. Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed his office was served with legal papers from Malotana’s representatives, indicating that they are currently preparing to oppose the application. Lesufi clarified that Malotana’s suspension stems from a separate SIU report, not specifically the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption investigation.
- 16 October 2025: The Democratic Alliance (DA) laid seven criminal charges against former Gauteng Department of Health CFO, Lerato Madyo, at the Johannesburg Central Police Station. The charges relate to Madyo’s failure to act on Babita Deokaran’s reports regarding suspicious transactions at Tembisa Hospital, and include charges of theft and fraud, failure to report corruption, conspiracy to commit an offence, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
- 14 October 2025: Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, suspended Lesiba Arnold Malotana, Head of the Gauteng Department of Health following investigations into the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital extraction fraud. Malotana is the first senior official to be suspended in connection with the SIU’s findings on corruption and looting at Tembisa Hospital.
- 12 October 2025: The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) obtained a preservation order for R900 million worth of assets linked to the Tembisa Hospital extraction syndicates. In executing the order, the SIU raided the home of syndicate leader Hangwani Maumela, seizing assets valued at approximately R133.5 million. Among the assets confiscated were the R70 million Sandhurst property, three Lamborghinis, four luxury vehicles from a Mpumalanga car dealership, and R3 million worth of household contents. The assets will be forfeited to the State once civil proceedings are concluded.
- 3 October 2025: Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks has identified the third unnamed syndicate operating in Tembisa Hospital, referred to as ‘Syndicate X’ by the Special Investigating Unit, as the syndicate led by Stefan Joel Govindraju. Govindraju’s syndicate has been linked to 60 separate shell companies and is allegedly responsible for extracting R600 million from Tembisa Hospital.
- 3 October 2025: Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks highlighted that while the Maumela syndicate allegedly extracted over R820 million from Tembisa Hospital, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has only secured assets valued at R320 million, leaving a R500 million gap still unaccounted for. Wicks raised concerns about the discrepancy in findings between the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) AFU investigations.
- 1 October 2025: Despite being implicated in the R2bn Tembisa Hospital fraud, Hangwani Maumela is reportedly seeking a new R1bn food supply contract in the North West province. His company, Aloo Construction and Supply, allegedly used a fraudulent Black Economic Empowerment certificate to bid and has successfully obtained an interim interdict from the Mahikeng High Court to block the tender award to the legitimate bidder.
- 30 September 2025: The SIU found evidence that R122.2 million in kickbacks was paid to officials and employees of the Gauteng Department of Health and Tembisa Hospital. At least 15 current and former officials have been identified as being involved in these activities. According to Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, most of the officials implicated in the corruption scandal have resigned before facing consequences. The department has only acted against 11 of the identified officials, as many others have ‘run away’.
- 29 September 2025: An interim report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed that nine distinct syndicates were uncovered in the investigation into the R2bn extraction fraud at Tembisa Hospital. Three of these syndicates have been identified as central to the extraction: the Maumela syndicate, the Mazibuko syndicate, and a third syndicate currently referred to as ‘Syndicate X’, whose leader’s identity has not yet been made publicly available. According to the report, the Maumela syndicate extracted R816 million through 1728 purchase orders, the Mazibuko syndicate extracted R283 million, and ‘Syndicate X’ extracted more than R596 million through over 1000 purchase orders.
- 29 September 2025: ActionSA lodged a complaint with the Public Protector, calling for the enforcement of the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) recommendations and decisive consequence management against all individuals and companies implicated in the Tembisa Hospital corruption.
- 29 September 2025: The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) prepared 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials implicated in maladministration and the irregular appointment of service providers at Tembisa Hospital. Of these referrals, 108 have been officially delivered to the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) for further action. The Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) investigation into the Tembisa Hospital extraction fraud currently involves 207 service providers who transacted with the hospital under 4,501 purchase orders. The total value under investigation is R2 043 293 404.10. These figures are constantly updated as the investigation continues. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed that R13.5 million in contracts awarded under the Maumela syndicate are linked to three companies controlled by businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Matlala, a key figure in the Tembisa Hospital fraud previously flagged by whistleblower Babita Deokaran, remains in police custody on separate charges.
- 12 September 2025: In August 2025, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) secured two preservation orders against two syndicates implicated in the Tembisa Hospital fraud. The orders freeze assets linked to the Hangwani Morgan Maumela syndicate, valued at R326 million, and the Rudolph Mazibuko syndicate, valued at R47 million. Seized assets include luxury properties, four Lamborghinis, a Bentley, a boat, three Mercedes-Benz cars, and a Land Rover. This action follows investigations sparked by a report from whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
- 12 September 2025: The scale of corruption has been updated, with investigations now showing that fourteen entities (previously twelve) linked to Hangwani Morgan Maumela received at least R415 million (previously R336 million) from Tembisa Hospital contracts. Additionally, eighteen entities (previously seventeen) linked to the Mazibuko syndicate are now known to have unlawfully benefited from contracts worth over R283 million (previously R249 million).
- 28 August 2025: In his SMWX podcast interview, investigative journalist Jeff Wicks stated that Hangwani Morgan Maumela, a nephew of Ramaphosa from a previous marriage, is called ‘the don of Tembisa’, with sources claiming ‘nothing moves in that place without him’. Wicks claims Maumela is ‘one of the single largest beneficiaries of all of the money that was extracted from Tembisa, at least R430 million’.
- 23 August 2025: The head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Advocate Andy Mothibi, stated that the SIU’s investigation has uncovered more than four syndicates operating in Tembisa Hospital, with 111 officials implicated thus far. He confirmed that the unlawful contracts have been cancelled, and disciplinary processes are underway.
- 4 August 2025: Four years after Babita Deokaran’s assassination, six men have been convicted and sentenced, but the masterminds remain unidentified.
- 2 August 2025: Messages were accessed on the confiscated phone of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s, a key figure in the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, who Babita Deokaran had flagged for his alleged involvement in a massive tender scam and suspicious payments at Tembisa Hospital before her murder. The phone messages indicate that Matlala financed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s guests at an ANC gala dinner, prompting the appointment of the Madlanga Commission to investigate these allegations.
- 2 August 2025: Messages were accessed on the confiscated phone of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s, a key figure in the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, who Babita Deokaran had flagged for his alleged involvement in a massive tender scam and suspicious payments at Tembisa Hospital before her murder. The phone messages allegedly link Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to an intermediary who purportedly acted on Mchunu’s behalf to disband the political killings task team.
- 31 July 2025: Advocate Andy Mothibi, head of the SIU, confirmed the investigation into Babita Deokaran’s murder is in its final stages, with a report expected soon. The SIU’s probe uncovered potential looting of approximately R3 billion involving syndicates inflating prices by up to 400%. Similar corruption schemes are suspected in other Gauteng hospitals.
- 26 July 2025: KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi revealed that senior police officers and politicians interfere with police work, hindering the resolution of certain crimes. He specifically linked suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a key figure in the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal.
- 18 July 2025: A research report titled “The Future of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit” highlights the SIU’s uncovering of a R2 billion fraud and corruption scheme at Tembisa Hospital. The report underscores the significant scale of the corruption under investigation by the SIU in connection with Tembisa Hospital.
- 18 July 2025: New evidence has emerged in the investigation into Babita Deokaran’s assassination, raising hopes of identifying the mastermind. Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, arrested in May 2025 for alleged attempted murder, has become a central figure. Matlala was first linked to Tembisa Hospital tender irregularities in 2021 and was flagged by Deokaran for suspicious activities connected to his companies. Allegations suggest Matlala leads a criminal syndicate. Stakeholders anticipate that this development may help pinpoint the person who ordered Deokaran’s murder.
- 2 July 2025: Stefan Govindraju, described as the “Tembisa Hospital syndicate kingpin,” faces criminal tax charges by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). He appeared in court for allegedly failing to submit tax returns for Fuligenix, one of his companies. Investigations reveal his corrupt network involves five additional entities that received R16 million for goods supplied at inflated prices, including surgical scissors priced approximately 6,000% above market value. Govindraju is linked to over 56 shell companies that allegedly acquired around R450 million through irregular tenders and remains central to a three-year graft probe by the SIU and the Hawks following the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
- 1 July 2025: Concerns continue that the Gauteng Health Department is procuring from companies linked to the Tembisa Hospital scandal. Sello Sekhokho, a central figure in the R2.3 billion fraud, still secures government contracts, including supplying toilet paper through Nokokhokho Medical Supplies. Despite investigations by the Hawks and the SIU and adverse recommendations, his businesses were reportedly reinstated by late 2023 after a brief suspension. The Democratic Alliance (DA) raised concerns that corruption and political networks remain intact. The Gauteng Health MEC is awaiting feedback on Sekhokho’s investigation without imposing blacklisting.
- 20 May 2025: Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola cancelled a R360m health services contract that the SAPS had entered into with Vusimuzi Matlala in June 2024. Masemola cited several irregularities in the tender award process. This comes after Matlala was arrested on 14 May 2025 on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to an alleged hit on his ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.
- 12 May 2025: Thembinkosi Manqunyana was formally charged with arson in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court for setting two fires in Tembisa Hospital on 19 and 23 April, which damaged infrastructure and left patients without essential care for days. Manqunyana has alleged that the hospital’s head of security was directly involved in commissioning him to perpetrate the crime. It has been reported that some of the documents destroyed in the fires contained evidence related to irregular procurement at the hospital being investigated as part of the SIU’s corruption probe.
- 16 April 2025: Sello Sekhokho, Treasurer-General of the ANC’s Ekurhuleni region, is reportedly campaigning to become ANC Ekurhuleni Regional Chairperson with the support of Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. The Hawks raided Sekhokho’s home and business premises in March 2023, and he is still under investigation. This is despite Sekhokho’s companies being flagged as benefitting from suspicious payments worth millions when Mthunzi was CEO of Tembisa Hospital.
- 19 December 2024: The home and office of Vusimuzi Matlala, a well-known tender tycoon implicated in the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, was raided. Matlala’s attorney and legal representatives, who witnessed the raid on Matlala’s Tshwane office, claim that their client’s rights were violated during the raid, which was allegedly conducted without a search warrant.
- April 2024: Dr Mthunzi died, having been paid R2.5m while on suspension. He was in the process of undergoing a disciplinary inquiry, which had lasted almost two years.
- August 2024: Reportedly, Madyo was allowed to resign before the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against her. She had drawn nearly R3m in salary while on suspension.
- The SIU investigation is ongoing. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that they expected to conclude the investigation in November, but an ‘extension of the deadline is a consideration due to the complexity of the investigation and the considerable amount of evidence’.
Public Impact
The murder of Deokaran has exposed the lack of protection for whistleblowers in South African corruption scandals.
Tembisa Hospital – which was already under-resourced, with staffing shortages, outdated equipment and dilapidated infrastructure – was targeted by a corrupt R2bn extraction scheme.