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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi suspended head of the Gauteng department of health and wellness, Lesiba Arnold Malotana, amid corruption scandal on Tuesday with immediate effect.
The suspension follows ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and irregular tenders at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital.
Dr Darion Barclay, currently leading the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), has been appointed as acting head of the department to ensure stability and continuity.
“Dr Barclay, who currently leads the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), will ensure stability and continuity in this critical department and his appointment highlights the
importance of prioritising seamless service delivery,” the premier said.
Lesufi further announced that on Thursday, 16 October 2025, the his office will also make the signed performance agreements of all Members of the Executive Council (MECs) available to the public.
He added; “The Gauteng Provincial Government reaffirms its full support for the work of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other law enforcement agencies.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to root out maladministration and to uphold the highest standards of accountability and ethical leadership.”
Axe rather than Suspend
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has demanded the immediate firing of Malotana, instead of being placed on suspension, with full pay.
Madeleine Hicklin, DA Gauteng spokesperson for health said for years, Malotana has received high-level protection from Premier Lesufi despite his name being linked to numerous scandals.
Adding that a Special Investigative Unit (SIU) investigation into allegations revealed that he received a multi-million-rand bribe to approve a contract, along with other officials in the department.
“In August this year, during a question session, the Premier Lesufi offered a terse reply to Dr Jack Bloom, the DA’s Shadow MEC of Health, when he questioned whether Malotana had failed his lifestyle audit or not.
“Lesufi responded that he was ‘awaiting the finalisation of the audit’ and stated that ‘he was not accountable to the DA, he was accountable to the ANC’. But the Premier is wrong: he is answerable to the citizens of Gauteng, not to internal factions of the ANC,” she expressed.
Hicklin stated that they will continue to push for the firing of non-performing HODs like Malotana who has headed a department synonymous with one scandal after another.
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She added; “This includes the assassination of whistleblower, Babita Deokoran who uncovered the R2 billion scandal that has crippled Tembisa Hospital; the underspending of R725 million in the last financial year, and R250 million meant to provide treatment to cancer patients across the province that was returned to National Treasury.”
Activist and Citizens Forum spokesperson, Dennis Bloem, said they welcome Malotana’s suspension stating that it is a step in the right direction.
“It must not only be the foot soldiers that must be rounded-up. We demand that the ring-leaders must be arrested for the corruption that is taking place at the department of health in Gauteng.
“We must see politicians taking responsibility and being arrested for the looting of tax payers money at these hospitals. We know that the looting is not only taking place at Tembisa hospital but in almost all government hospitals in Gauteng,” he remarked.
Bloem called on law enforcement agencies to show no mercy on criminals that are looting hospitals and emphasised that they must be arrested immediately.
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