By Everson Luhanga
- The Democratic Alliance has told Premier Panyaza Lesufi that families suffer when hospital money is stolen, demanding arrests for the Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal.
- The party says seized assets linked to the Tembisa Hospital looting must be sold quickly to return money to struggling patients and hospitals.
Families who depend on Gauteng’s hospitals are still paying the price for the billions stolen from Tembisa Hospital.
On Thursday morning, the Democratic Alliance held a picket outside Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s office in Johannesburg, demanding arrests and answers.
Led by DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Dr Jack Bloom, the group handed over a memorandum calling for criminal charges against everyone linked to the looting.
Bloom says it does not matter how powerful or connected the suspects are — they must face the law.
The DA says the corruption problem is far bigger than Tembisa Hospital.
They want a full investigation into procurement systems across all Gauteng hospitals to stop more money from being stolen.
Bloom says the seized assets must be sold quickly so that the funds can return to patients who suffer when hospitals run short of basic supplies.
He is joined by DA Tembisa Constituency Heads Refiloe Ntšekhe and Khathutshelo Rasilingwane.
The party highlights businessman Hangwani Maumela, whose name appears in contracts flagged by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
They say there is enough evidence to charge him and others without waiting for the final Special Investigating Unit report.
The DA also calls for justice for Deokaran and for whistleblowers to be protected.
Another demand is for Premier Lesufi to fire Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
They accuse her of allowing the former Chief Financial Officer of the department to resign with her pension while dodgy contracts were covered up.
The picket took place outside the Gauteng Premier’s office at 55 Marshall Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
Pictured above: DA leaders protest outside the Gauteng Premier’s office.
Image source: DA
