Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the seizure of luxury vehicles and other assets from businessman Hangwani Maumela, one of the central figures in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption case.
This is a good and necessary step by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), but it cannot stop here. South Africans want to see arrests, charges, and convictions. We need the masterminds of this looting in court, not just their cars being loaded onto trucks.
While the SIU deserves credit for the progress made, this remains an interim report. The final report will only be completed next year, and we know from experience that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is far too slow when it comes to acting on such findings. The NPA must move faster. The evidence is already clear. It’s time for prosecutions.
We cannot afford another Life Esidimeni situation, where nine years later not a single person has been charged. The same culture of delay and impunity must not take hold here. The theft at Tembisa Hospital cost lives and crippled basic healthcare. Those responsible must be held to account.
At least now, the SIU is going after the wealth of the kingpins – something we never saw in Life Esidimeni. But this must lead to the next step: recovering every stolen cent and returning it to the Gauteng Health Department, where it belongs. That money should be used to fix hospitals, buy medicines, and ensure patients receive proper care.
The DA will keep pressing until the full truth is exposed and justice is done for Babita Deokaran and all South Africans who continue to suffer because of this corruption.
Regards
Dr Jack Bloom MPL
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health