SWAPNA PRABHAKARAN, Durban | Monday 7.00PM
THE brother-in-law of Health Minister Nkosasana Zuma was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal on the weekend on suspicion of large-scale misappropriation of health department funds.
Sipho Ngxongo, the director of health in Empangeni on KZN’s north coast, was arrested on Saturday in connection with R3,5-million which is missing from his department’s budget.
His wife, Slobisile Ngxongo, is Zuma’s younger sister, and sources within the regional department of health say a warrant has been issued for her arrest too.
The Daily News reports that Ngxongo is suspected of siphoning millions of rands from the provincial health budget via shady cheques made out to the Maputoland Women’s Organisation. Both Ngxongos have positions in the MWO – he is the director, she is a co-ordinator. Another member of the MWO, Khethiwe Mdlalose, was also arrested on Saturday.
Health spokesman David McGlew said his department handed the matter over to the police on Friday. “We were expecting an arrest within 48 hours,” McGlew said.