Court grants bail to 4 Former officials arrested for 2007 R1.2BN Gauteng health dept tender scandal

Court has granted bail to four former state officials who were arrested on Thursday morning.

They appeared before the Palm Ridge Commercial Crimes Court.

The four were accused of fraud and corruption linked to a 2007 Gauteng Health Department tender, which skyrocketed from R57 million to R1.2 billion.

The then health MEC, Brian Hlongwa was not present in court.

According to Hawks, the tender was awarded without following due tender procedures.

The former officials arrested includes Sybil Ngcobo, Mmakgosi Mosupi, Valdis Romano and Obakeng Mookeletsi.

They were accused of making sure some certain people get awarded.

They are facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

Hawks indicated that the directors of two private company who unduly benefited from the tender were currently outside the country.

It noted that steps had already been taken to ensure that they were brought to justice.

The controversial tender was awarded while MEC Brian Hlongwa was in office.

According to the SIU’s report, Baoki Consortium director, Heinz Smidek purchased a R4.6 million house in Bryanston that Hlongwa lived in rent-free.

NPA’S Sipho Ngwema explains why “there were other officials, senior in the health Department, that other people believe that they should have been here today.”

“This but one part of a big investigation with regards to what happened. The other net is coming and we suspect that there should be other developments in that regard.”

The were granted bail ranging from R8,000 to R25,000.