In wake of oxygen tender scandal, Health Dept auditing all of its contracts with IDT, says Motsoaledi

Cape Town
Lindsay Dentlinger

Lindsay Dentlinger

23 October 2025 | 10:44

In August, the IDT's CEO, Tebogo Malaka, was suspended following evidence of corruption in the tender and attempts to bribe a journalist.

In wake of oxygen tender scandal, Health Dept auditing all of its contracts with IDT, says Motsoaledi

FILE: Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in Parliament. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament of SA

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says his department is auditing all contracts it has with the Independent Development Trust (IDT) following the scandal around an oxygen supply tender for state hospitals.

Having since entrusted the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) to take over the project, Motsoaledi said it was still to be determined how many hospitals could be supplied with the R836 million donation from the Global Fund.

In August, the IDT's CEO, Tebogo Malaka, was suspended following evidence of corruption in the tender and attempts to bribe a journalist.

Answering questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Minister Motsoaledi said that health officials had provided incorrect information that the oxygen supply tender had ballooned from R250 million to more than R800 million because of corrupt tender processes.

He said a desktop study had determined that thirty small hospitals could be serviced with the global fund’s R250 million donation, but following the submission of a second successful bid by the department, the global fund had since provided more money for the project.

Motsoaledi said the DBSA was now determining by testing the market exactly how many hospitals could be supplied with the available funds, including maintenance.

"We will have to issue a contract for whoever must maintain because there’s no point in putting oxygen plants that will only work for three years, and then after that, they are not there. We will never allow that."

Motsoaledi added that since the release of an forensic investigation into the IDT’s management of the tender by the minister of public works, Dean Macpherson, he’s requested that health department officials also be probed to ensure there’s been no malfeasance on their part.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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