The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has declared the Tembisa Hospital an “active crime scene,” following a protest by its members outside the facility. The declaration comes in the wake of a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report that uncovered massive tender fraud and irregularities amounting to over R2 billion, with the figure expected to rise as probes continue.
OUTA member Ali Gule, who addressed the media during the protest, confirmed the organization’s stance. While acknowledging the SIU’s efforts, Gule insisted that far more needs to be done to address the deep-seated corruption at the hospital.
“Yes, we do appreciate and commend SIU for all the good work that they have done,” stated Gule. “Notwithstanding our views and sentiments in this regard, we think there’s more that can be done.”
Gule outlined several reasons for the “active crime scene” designation, citing the ongoing SIU investigation, a separate probe into two separate fires at the hospital, and the implication of more than 100 hospital officials in corrupt activities, whom he described as “enablers.” He further warned that more individuals are likely to be implicated.
The OUTA spokesperson highlighted the 2019 murder of Babita Deokaran, a senior finance official at the hospital who was a key whistleblower. Gule revealed that Deokaran had alerted a former CFO to the corruption and had put a hold on R104 million in suspicious payments.
“19 days thereafter, Babita was assassinated,” Gule stated. “After she was murdered, the money was released.”
A central demand in OUTA’s memorandum is the immediate suspension of all implicated officials pending the investigation’s outcome. Gule called for not only arrests but for convicted individuals to be sent to prison, stating, “We need to see people in orange overalls.”
He emphasized that any recovered funds must be returned directly to the hospital’s account, not to the provincial treasury. “It means an extra ambulance, extra bed, extra doctor,” Gule said, stressing that the stolen R2 billion represents critical resources for a hospital serving a community in desperate need.
Gule clarified that OUTA is not calling for the hospital’s operations to cease, affirming that it must continue to provide essential healthcare. However, he argued that the corruption at Tembisa Hospital is likely not an isolated incident.
“We reckon this may typify all public facilities,” Gule said. “The corruption may be spread across the province if not across the country.”
OUTA is now pushing for a rapid conclusion to the investigations and for all those implicated to face the full might of the law, including having their pension funds frozen. The organization vows to continue its pressure on authorities until accountability is achieved.