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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has submitted an urgent request to the legislature to convene a portfolio committee meeting with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and relevant stakeholders regarding the protection of whistleblowers of fraud and corruption in the province.

This follows this morning’s legislature portfolio committee meeting held with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) and the Health Department in respect of the precautionary suspensions of the former acting Head of Department of Health, Dr Dion Theys, as well as Chief Financial Officer, Mr Daniel Gaborone. The two were arrested by the Hawks last week, each on two counts of fraud in relation to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) irregularities valued at R43 million. Dr Theys is also facing an additional charge relating to non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). They are both out on bail of R20 000 each.

We appreciate the subsequent suspensions of the two senior officials, as their removal from the department to some extent safeguards state finances from their further influence. We are, however, not naive. We know that the rot within this department runs deep, and literally stretches across decades. The case that has now come to light is just the tip of the iceberg.

The magnitude of the lawlessness within this department makes us especially concerned about the safety of any potential whistleblowers.

Last week, we saw the assassination of whistleblower Babita Deokaran, a senior official of the Gauteng Health department, who was exposing similar wrongdoing in her province. We cannot allow the same thing to happen here.

In order to ensure that corruption is not only exposed, but also that perpetrators of these crimes are successfully prosecuted, it is essential that the safety of those providing evidence and testimony, is secured as a matter of priority.

Both law enforcement, the provincial government and especially the health department, have a great responsibility to any witnesses that have and may still come forward. They dare not let this province down. Any failure in this regard will make them complicit to a mafia state.

Issued by DA