The scrub room in Settler's Hospital in the Eastern Cape. A report by the SIU has found widespread fraud involving thousands of health department officials in the province
The investigation, launched in December, found that 15 900 department officials were illegally receiving child support grants totalling R58-million per year, the Daily Dispatch Online reported on Tuesday.
The leaked report also revealed that almost 4 000 officials were illegally receiving housing subsidies from the human settlements department amounting to R86-million.
Assets valued around R19-million, which were transferred to district offices, apparently went missing.
The health department reportedly paid R42.8-million to 226 companies linked to 235 civil servants, while 174 officials’ spouses were linked to companies that benefited R9-million.
The report indicated problems faced by investigators included missing supply chain management, believed to have been stolen or sold to a recycling plant.
Health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo acknowledged the difficulties.
“The department of health is committed to fighting fraud and corruption and anyone accused of such allegations will be pursued, regardless of who they are,” he said.
The department lost R800-million to corruption between January 2009 and June 2010. – Sapa