South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has called for lifetime bans on corrupt officials, saying those who steal from the public should never again be allowed to serve in government.
Speaking at a briefing on the Special Investigating Unit’s probe into Tembisa Hospital, Motsoaledi said he was outraged at the scale of corruption uncovered. He questioned why people implicated in corruption are repeatedly allowed back into public service.
“Once you are caught, you must never work for the public again. We keep recycling them. They get charged, they get parole, and then they continue stealing,” he said.
The minister also expressed frustration at the dangers faced by whistle-blowers, noting that honest public servants often live in hiding while corrupt networks flourish. “The only way is to remove from society those who force whistle-blowers into hiding,” he said.
Investigators revealed shocking details of syndicates looting billions meant for healthcare. Evidence shows more than R2 billion siphoned off through fraudulent contracts, with over R122 million linked to health officials and hospital staff. One syndicate alone controlled at least 41 suppliers tied to irregular deals worth more than R816 million.
Motsoaledi admitted the revelations left him reflecting on harsh measures used elsewhere in the world, even if not applicable in South Africa. “When things like this happen, you start understanding why some countries go to extreme lengths, because they refuse to let criminals run amok,” he said.
The Tembisa scandal has once again laid bare deep-rooted corruption in public healthcare, sparking renewed calls for tougher accountability.