The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed the recovery of over R13.5 million from a Tembisa Hospital employee, Zacharia Tshisele, who was arrested on corruption charges following an extensive probe into procurement irregularities at the facility.
According to the SIU, Tshisele allegedly received unlawful payments from various service providers between 2020 and 2023. The case was referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks earlier this year, leading to his arrest.
The investigation into Tshisele is part of a far broader SIU probe that has uncovered a massive network of corruption within the Gauteng Health Department. The unit has identified more than R122 million in corrupt payments involving at least 15 current and former health officials, who are linked to collusion and bid-rigging.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago provided detailed insight into the case against Tshisele. He explained that after the SIU traced illicit funds to Tshisele’s bank accounts and investments, the official voluntarily approached the unit to return the money.
“He voluntarily came to us and said… I want to bring back this money because I got it in a manner that is not right,” Kganyago stated. Tshisele then made two payments totalling just over R13.5 million.
However, following this restitution, Tshisele was arrested after allegedly attempting to bribe a Hawks official with R100,000.
Kganyago elaborated on the scale of the wider scandal, noting the R122 million represents funds given directly to officials. He confirmed the investigation is ongoing and that the SIU is actively pursuing the recovery of the full amount, as well as a separate R2 billion linked to the broader probe.
When asked if senior management could be implicated, Kganyago confirmed the possibility, stating the investigation is “also implicating people in the provincial department of health” and that the number of implicated individuals is expected to grow.
The SIU spokesperson dismissed the notion that failed procurement systems were to blame, attributing the corruption squarely to “human beings who were just greedy.” He explained that officials manipulated the system by using the three-quote method for transactions under R500,000, but colluded with companies owned by the same people to rig the bids.
Kganyago expressed concern over the pace of prosecutions but affirmed that monitoring mechanisms are in place to track the SIU’s referrals to the NPA and Hawks. He emphasized the seriousness of the case, noting, “There are people who died because of these transactions that they did unlawfully and the services were not delivered.”
To prevent a repeat, the SIU is preparing systemic recommendations for the hospital and health department, which include closing procedural gaps and implementing lifestyle audits for officials.
Kganyago also highlighted the critical role of whistleblowers in uncovering corruption and assured that the SIU is committed to their protection, working with the Department of Justice to strengthen related legislation.
The SIU’s recovery of funds from Tshisele marks a significant step in a sprawling investigation that continues to expose deep-seated corruption within a critical public health institution.