Hawks official, employee in court for R100k ‘bribe’

A Hawks official and a Tembisa Hospital employee are expected to appear before the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Monday to face corruption charges related to investigations into the R2bn looting spree from the facility.

Hawks spokesperson Brig Thandi Mbambo said the two were arrested on Sunday after they allegedly attempted to bribe an investigating officer tasked with investigating the R2bn looting spree at the hospital in an attempt to avoid the employee’s prosecution.

On Sunday, the Hawks member and the Tembisa Hospital official met with the complainant and the investigator in the case and handed over R100,000 cash as gratification.

—  Brig Thandi Mbambo, Hawks spokesperson

“On Sunday, the Hawks member and the Tembisa Hospital official met with the complainant [an investigating officer] and the investigator in the case and handed over R100,000 cash as gratification.

“An operation authorised by the director of public prosecutions was subsequently executed by the DPCI’s (Hawks) serious corruption investigation unit, leading to the arrest of the sergeant and the Tembisa Hospital official.”

Mbambo said the Hawks remain committed to upholding transparency, accountability and the rule of law and are steadfast in the fight against corruption.

In September, Special Investigating Unit boss Andy Mothibi revealed 15 Tembisa Hospital employees were allegedly involved in corruption, money laundering, collusion and bid rigging to benefit the syndicates that looted R2bn.

He said hospital managers allegedly received substantial payments from syndicates, allowing them to embezzle more than R2bn.

Sowetan