Gauteng DA calls for criminal charges against employees involved in botched R600m hospital tender

JOHANNESBURG - Opposition parties in Gauteng have called for criminal cases to be instituted against employees involved in a botched R600 million tender to renovate a private hospital.

In 2021, the Gauteng government paid over R600 million to upgrade the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital, however, it was never used.

During Thursday’s State of the Province Address (SOPA) debate, the matter took centre stage.

The Gauteng government recently announced that five employees had been dismissed for their role in the irregular tender.

However, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) opposition in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga, said the DA feels that the punishment is not enough considering the money involved.

"Because if you charge them criminally, they will start singing like [Italian opera vocalist, Luciano] Pavarotti. They will tell us where the decision to implement came from because we know those decisions came from politicians."

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng has also called for more transparency around the deal.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is on a mission to recoup some of the money from the contractors who were tasked with the renovations.

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