'Cartels corrupting our systems of procurement in the health sector' - Cachalia

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said that criminal cartels had corrupted the procurement and supply chain systems in the country's health sector.

He said that Tembisa Hospital was not the only healthcare facility that was faced with the problem of "systemic corruption", after fraud valued at over R2 billion was revealed at the hospital.

Cachalia was giving evidence on Wednesday before the Parliament ad hoc committee investigating police corruption.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed recently that syndicates were responsible for the looting of over R2 billion at the Tembisa Hospital.

It said the money was siphoned off through a complex web of fraud and corruption.

Cachalia raised the matter at the ad hoc committee on Wednesday, saying that cartels had corrupted the health sector.

The acting minister said the problem also goes beyond just the Tembisa Hospital.

"Tembisa Hospital has a problem of systemic corruption and I’m quite sure it’s not the only hospital. And now we’re learning that it’s also a problem of organised crime that there are cartels corrupting our systems of procurement in the health sector."

Cachalia said they’re now recommending an investigating body within the police to go into institutions and investigate any procurement crimes.

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