Ten of the 12 officials implicated in the draft forensic audit reports on alleged irregularities in the Mpumalanga health department are expected to appear before a tribunal on Thursday, SABC radio news has reported.
The officials allegedly violated the Public Finance Management Act and treasury regulations. The tribunal will be chaired by senior officials from the Department of Public Service and Administration.
KPMG conducted the audits following a negative report on the department by the auditor general earlier this year.
KPMG recommended the department consider immediate disciplinary action against two senior officials and one former senior official implicated in financial mismanagement, and recommended that criminal proceedings be instituted against two of the officials.
Some of those implicated included former head of the health department Riena Charles and the chief financial officer, Richard Mnisi.
Earlier this month provincial minister of health Sibongile Manana was moved to the sports, recreation, arts and culture portfolio. At the same time, Charles became deputy director general in Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu’s office.
According to media reports, three separate investigations have uncovered massive fraud and corruption in the department.
This allegedly includes expenditure of about a third of the province’s R19-million HIV/Aids budget on soccer matches, plays, prayer days and the unregistered charity of a local chief, as well as irregularities with tender procedures and the purchase of unnecessary hospital equipment. — Sapa