Crime Intelligence
A Hawks sergeant and a 53-year-old Tembisa Hospital official are due in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on corruption charges. They allegedly handed over R100,000 to an investigating officer as a bribe to derail a probe into hospital corruption. Authorities say they are committed to rooting out fraud.
A Hawks sergeant and a Tembisa Hospital employee are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after allegedly offering a R100 000 bribe to an investigating officer in an attempt to derail a corruption probe. According to the Hawks, the sergeant approached a colleague who was leading an investigation into irregular activities at the hospital and tried to convince him to abandon the case. The hospital official is accused of providing the cash during a meeting arranged for the handover.
The investigating officer immediately reported the attempt to his superiors, prompting a sting operation that resulted in both suspects being arrested. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit carried out the operation after receiving authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Acting Hawks head Lieutenant General Siphosihle Nkosi praised the officer who reported the bribe, saying the case underscores the organisation’s commitment to rooting out corruption, even when it involves its own members. The arrests form part of a broader investigation into large-scale fraud and procurement abuses at Tembisa Hospital, where officials have been scrutinised for the suspected looting of billions of rands.
The two accused will now face corruption charges as the inquiry into the hospital’s financial irregularities continues to widen, placing renewed focus on integrity within law enforcement and public health administration.
