Gauteng: Suspended Tembisa Hospital CEO Dr Ashley Mthunzi dies
The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed the death of suspended Tembisa Hospital CEO Dr Ashley Mthunzi.
The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed the death of suspended Tembisa Hospital CEO Dr Ashley Mthunzi.
Mthunzi passed away on Tuesday, 23 April.
TEMBISA HOSPITAL CEO ASHLEY MTHUNZI HAS DIED
In a statement, the Gauteng Department of Health sent its condolences to Mthunzi’s family, friends and colleagues as they navigate through the difficult period of mourning.
Mthunzi was placed on precautionary suspension in 2022 following an investigation into allegations of improper procurement and payment of service providers at Tembisa Hospital.
THE POSSIBLY CORRUPT CONTRACTS
Mthunzi was thrust into the spotlight after it was revealed that whistleblower Babita Deokaran who was gunned down outside her house tried to stop possibly corrupt contracts at Tembisa Hospital, and flagged other transactions worth R850 million.
Another top ANC official in Gauteng was named in the corruption scandal. Sello Sekhokho was the ANC treasurer-general in Ekurhuleni at the time.
Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that the party bigwig had a whopping total of 55 contracts in place with Tembisa Hospital, involving his three companies.
The companies provided items such as cleaning products, PPE, office supplies – and even groceries. What’s more, Sekhokho doubled his haul in 2021 – when Ashley Mthunzi was appointed CEO.
All individual payments between Tembisa Hospital and Sello Sekhokho were under R500 000. This means they didn’t have to be reviewed, and Mthunzi could simply approve the transaction himself.
The Department of Health's Chief Financial Officer Lerato Madyo and the Chief Executive Officer of Tembisa Hospital, Dr Ashley Mthunzi, have been placed on precautionary suspension.
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 26, 2022
Gauteng Premier's spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga explains.https://t.co/9kRK2uj0lX#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/8q541dw5KM
HOSPITAL PURCHASES SKINNY JEANS WORTH R500 000
In 2022, Tembisa Hospital made headlines for purchasing 200 skinny jeans amounting to R2 500 each. In total, the hospital paid R498 000.
During a radio interview, Mthunzi argued that the skinny jeans were purchased erroneously. He claimed that the wrong product code was entered, and instead of procuring surgical equipment, a half-million rand order of denim trousers was filed.
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) questioned – what hospital in its right mind has a pre-set code for skinny jeans?
“So Ashley Mtunzi wants us to believe that Tembisa Hospital has a ‘material code’ for skinny jeans? It was supposedly entered by accident…We’re not stupid. In fact, nobody even knows if the skinny jeans exist. It could have been a fake invoice just to swindle money,” the organisations said.