Gauteng DA calls for transparency after provincial health HOD suspended following lifestyle audit

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling for transparency after the Gauteng government revealed provincial health head of department (HOD) Lesiba Malotana was suspended following a lifestyle audit.

The audit was conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

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It’s part of a continuous agreement entered into by the SIU and the Gauteng government to conduct lifestyles on all its senior managers.

Speaking before the Gauteng Legislature on Tuesday, the acting premier, MEC Faith Mazibuko, said that the lifestyle audit classified Malotana as high-risk.

"Consequently, premier has noted the department’s performance and the outcome of the lifestyle audit and has requested the SIU to conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation into Mr Malotana’s lifestyle. Hence, Mr Malotana is now placed on precautionary suspension until the SIU completes its forensic investigation."

DA Gauteng spokesperson on health, Jack Bloom, said his party would fight to make sure this matter was resolved in the public domain.

"We can only imagine the disaster inflicted on the health department by a man whose lifestyle is assessed as high-risk. We need to know the extent of his personal wealth and how he got it. What payoffs has he received in his long career in the department?

"Was he involved with the R2 billion siphoned off from the Tembisa Hospital, as well as other looting scandals? The DA will insist that the disciplinary charges he faces are made public and that his disciplinary process is concluded speedily, so he does not receive a huge salary while he is suspended."

The SIU said that it doesn’t comment on the lifestyle audits it does on behalf of other departments.