Motsoaledi pleased no donor funds were wasted in illicit procurement of oxygen plant
The investigation found the CEO of the Independent Development Trust, Tebogo Malaka, failed to exercise the necessary oversight over ballooning costs.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi during the SONA debate in Parliament on 12 February 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament of SA
JOHANNESBURG - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said he’s pleased no donor funding was wasted in the illegal procurement of service providers to supply the infrastructure to provide oxygen to 55 hospitals.
Motsoaledi said Tuesday's release of the findings of the forensic report ordered by Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson clears his department of any wrongdoing in the more than R800 million tender.
The investigation found the CEO of the Independent Development Trust, Tebogo Malaka, failed to exercise the necessary oversight over ballooning costs.
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Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the finalisation of this investigation removes the dark cloud that’s been hanging over the health department.
Motsoaledi said those who’ve been implicated in wrongdoing - not only committed financial corruption - but deprived patients of urgent life-support in the form of oxygen.
Motsoaledi’s spokesperson Foster Mohale, said: “Minister Motsoaledi is pleased that the Department of Health lost nothing and all the money that has been donated by the Global Fund is safe. It would have been a sad day if donor funds' money was to disappear under our watch.”
The tender has since been removed from the IDT and is now under the management of the development bank.
Motsoaledi said that with the finalisation of the forensic investigation, the remaining work will be expedited to conclude the project.