Corruption linked companies continue to scoop hospitals tenders

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At least four companies implicated in Tembisa Hospital corruption have received contracts worth R1.2 million in the last three months at Gauteng hospitals.

This was revealed by Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance’s questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

The four companies are all linked to Johannesburg businessman Paul Mojalefa Mokoena, who is also associated with companies irregularly awarded contacts at Tembisa Hospital.

Opposition party’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom said this is despite pledges that shady companies implicated in corruption be blacklisted.

Bloom stated that according to the MEC, there were irregularities in all the contracts awarded to Mokoena’s 14 companies, and none of them are registered with the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

“Last month the MEC responded to the call by the “Justice for Babita” petition to blacklist implicated companies by stating that “Blacklisting can only be done after the outcome of the investigation.

“However, measures have been put in place to ensure there is no re-occurrence and not to procure to the affected companies.

“Meiday Trading and Projects got seven contracts worth R447 000 on August 14, 2023, to supply meat to the Sebokeng Hospital.

“Oneall Distributors got seven contracts on July 21, to supply meat to Sebokeng Hospital for a total cost of R482 150.

“On August 17, they got a R360 000 contract to supply diesel and two contracts to supply fish costing R432 200 to Tambo Memorial Hospital.

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“Mafahla Group got five contracts on 19 July to supply milk products costing R170 936 to Sebokeng Hospital,” Bloom outlined.

He added that it is outrageous that these companies, which are being investigated for alleged bid-rigging, are still getting contracts.

Bloom further called for effective measures to immediately halt contracts with the 224 companies implicated in vile corruption that steals money needed to fix ailing hospitals.