Media Alert – Call to End Corruption to Fix the Public Healthcare System

Johannesburg, 18 October 2021 – the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) will march to the Union Buildings Pretoria. The march will demand that the government introduce strict measures to prevent corruption and prosecute all those responsible for the theft of public funds meant for the provision of healthcare.

Corruption and theft of public funds are rife in the Department of Health at all levels. This takes away resources needed for quality healthcare delivery. The examples abound. The release of The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) reports into the misuse of R1.2 billion from health department coffers between 2007 and 2012 under Brian Hlongwa’s watch as well as the misuse of R150 million in the Digital Vibes saga under the watch of Dr. Zweli Mkhize offers glimpses into the need for more stringent actions against perpetrators. Examples also include the SIU investigation into alleged misuse of COVID-19 funds by Dr. Bandile Masuku,
another former MEC for Health in the Gauteng province, and the tragic assassination of Babita Deokaran when she was reported to have been a key witness in a corruption case.

The health system is in crisis and millions of public healthcare users are unable to access the quality healthcare services they need, despite this right being enshrined in Section 27 of the Constitution. Improving the quality of services provided in public clinics is also vital to ensuring enough people are accessing HIV and TB prevention services, are getting tested, and are starting and importantly staying on treatment. The failure to make sufficient progress towards global HIV and TB targets can be directly linked back to the crisis in our health system.

We calling upon:

• The state President to work within his means and power to do all he can and bring about criminal proceedings to those implicated in the Digital Vibes Saga.
• The president to act fast against Dr. Zweli Mkhize, Dr. Anban Pillay and Other implicated officials include Popo Maja, head of communications at the department and member of the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC); Shireen Pardesi, chief director and TEC member; Senzeni Ngubane, TEC member; Dr. Sandile Buthelezi, director-general at the department; P Ngobese, administration clerk at the department and personal assistant of Pardesi; Reginald Ngcobo, TEC member; and Ian van der Merwe, the chief financial officer of the department.
• The Minister of Health to put all the officials of the Department of Health, who are implicated in this case on suspension with immediate effect, so that the rule of the law can be able to take its course.

The TAC is demanding answers from the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Minister of Health, Dr. Joseph Phaahla. This will mark the start of a radical campaign to advocate for the improvement of the state of healthcare in the country and for greater accountability for private and public power.

Details of the TAC march:
Date: Monday 18 October 2021
Time: 10h00 – March from Loftus Stadium Park to Union Buildings Pretoria.

For media engagement, please contact:
Xabisa Qwabe (Media and Communications Officer) via email:
xabisa.qwabe@mail.tac.org.za or on 081 264 3485