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ActionSA can today reveal that the Department of Health spent more than R800 000 on a disciplinary process targeting an official who exposed alleged tender fraud, raising serious concerns about the misuse of public, and potentially donor funds.

In a recent parliamentary reply, the Department confirmed that R838 296 was spent on appointing a chairperson and investigator to preside over a disciplinary hearing against Adv Maile Ngake. Adv Ngake is understood to have authored an investigative report in 2023 which linked the North West Department of Health to alleged tender irregularities amounting to more than R1.2 billion. 

Instead of prioritising the serious allegations raised, the Department appears to have diverted significant resources toward pursuing disciplinary action against the individual who brought these matters to light. These funds meant to be spent on support for critical health interventions such as HIV, TB, and broader health system strengthening are now used for internal disciplinary processes. 

The Minister’s reply confirms that questions around procurement processes and approvals for this expenditure are now under investigation by the Hawks. However, this does little to address the broader systemic issue of a government culture that appears more willing to spend public money silencing dissent than confronting wrongdoing.

This is not the first time Minister Motsoaledi has been embroiled in scandal, and as the executive authority, he must be held accountable for allowing this travesty to occur. This conduct amounts to nothing less than silencing the messenger — made all the more egregious by the misuse of critical donor funding to carry out such an act.

South Africa has already witnessed the tragic consequences of failing to protect whistleblowers. Individuals such as Babita Deokaran and Marius van der Westhuizen paid the ultimate price for exposing corruption. 

ActionSA calls for full transparency on the use of Global Fund resources in this matter, as well as urgent reforms to ensure that whistleblowers are protected, not persecuted. Government must demonstrate, through decisive action, that it is committed to rooting out corruption rather than targeting those who expose it.

Issued by ActionSA Member of Parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape