SIU Raid on Maumela’s Residence a Step Toward Justice for Babita

GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:

This morning’s raid on the residence belonging to Hangwani Maumela indicates that while the wheels of justice turn slowly, they are turning. Maumela is a figure who allegedly orchestrated the extraction of R820 million in contracts at Tembisa Hospital, through a web of fraudulent contracts.

The GOOD party commends the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the South African Police Service, and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) on this step towards ensuring accountability for the mass looting of Tembisa Hospital.

The life of Babita Deokaran was cut short for her role in attempting to expose those behind this looting. It must be honoured through prosecuting not only the businessmen alleged to have been involved, but also those politicians and public servants who allegedly facilitated this horrific corruption scandal.

Public money, meant to help those who are sick, was diverted into the pockets of powerful individuals, many of whom have so far escaped any consequences for their actions. This cannot be yet another scandal brushed under the carpet.

Whistleblowers must be protected and the corrupt, in both private and public sectors, must be jailed. The faith of our citizens in our justice and security systems is battered, and failure to improve this will only become an ever-greater risk to our democracy.

GOOD once again calls on the National Prosecuting Authority, in tandem with its colleagues in the security cluster, to ensure that prosecutions occur without fear or favour.