Two employees of the Gauteng health department have been dismissed for defrauding the department of more than R700 000, the department said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Vusi Sibiya said the dismissals followed disciplinary action taken as a result of a probe that was conducted by forensic auditors.
At the Tambo Memorial Hospital, an employee was found guilty of fraud pertaining to procurement irregularities.
”The employee was found guilty of having ordered goods that were already being supplied by another contractor. These goods amounted to R413 422,” said Sibiya.
Another health-department employee was dismissed after being found guilty of approving payments that were outside delegated powers.
The senior provisioning administration clerk at the Pretoria Dental Stores obtained quotes from non-registered companies between April 2002 and December .
”During this period, she submitted fictitious quotes to internal auditors and made misrepresentations to the effect that valid additional quotation for transactions had been obtained.”
She also purchased equipment from Ethos Medical and Dental at inflated prizes.
”Orders were split so as not to exceed R100 000 [if procurement exceeds this amount, approval must be obtained from the departmental acquisition committee]. The employee was only authorised to approve purchases of up to R5 000.”
Sibiya said these payments amounted to R387 976.
”Similar action is also looming on similar cases where investigation is almost complete,” he said. — Sapa