DA WELCOMES SIU PROBE INTO GAUTENG HEALTH DEPT CONTRACTS

The Democratic Alliance welcomes the proclamation in the Government Gazette by acting president Kgalema Motlanthe that authorizes the Special Investigating Unit to probe nine major contracts awarded by the Gauteng Health Department.

This includes the controversial Project Management Unit set up by 3P Consultancy, the R324 million failed smartcard project, the R48 million for ultra-violet irradiation units, the contract for running the Gauteng Aids Conference in November 2007 and the October 2008 contract for evaluating the surgical division at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

The total value of all these contracts is about R1 billion that was largely wasted and hopefully some of this can be recovered.

It is important that the SIU probes the possible role of former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa who was in charge when these contracts were in operation. A particular area of concern is that Hlongwa made no secret of his friendship with Mr Richard Payne, the MD of 3P Consultancy, whose contract was terminated by present Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu.

I recommend that a lifestyle audit be conducted on Hlongwa and on former senior health officials who seem to be living lavish lifestyles way above their ascertainable sources of income.

I suspect that bribes and improper influence were involved in the contracts that are being probed..

Prosecution of those implicated in any wrongdoing will send an important signal that will hopefully deter any future corruption.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom, MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, June 6 2010

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