The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has recovered R13.5 million from Tembisa Hospital nurse Zacharia Chisele, who was arrested this week after allegedly attempting to bribe a Hawks investigator.
Chisele, 53, is employed at the Gauteng health facility and is among several officials under investigation for large-scale procurement irregularities at the hospital.
The SIU said the arrest stems from an extensive probe that uncovered unlawful payments made to Chisele by multiple service providers between January 2020 and September 2023.
The matter was referred last year to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and the Asset Forfeiture Unit for criminal prosecution and asset recovery.
In November, Chisele paid R13,530,904 to the SIU, representing a portion of the corrupt proceeds identified during the investigation. Civil recovery efforts to reclaim the full amount are ongoing.
The investigation has so far revealed corrupt payments totalling R122 million involving officials and staff within the Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) and Tembisa Hospital.
At least 15 current and former employees have been implicated in alleged corruption, money laundering, collusion and bid rigging, with the SIU expecting more suspects to emerge as the probe deepens. Those implicated range from entry-level clerks to senior managers.
To date, the Unit has prepared 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials, including 108 matters submitted to the GDOH relating to maladministration and irregular procurement. The SIU says it remains committed to recovering state losses and rooting out corruption at public institutions.
The investigation falls under Proclamation No. 136 of 2023, which authorised the SIU to examine allegations of maladministration and corruption within the GDOH and Tembisa Hospital. In line with its mandate, the Unit has also referred criminal evidence to the NPA and continues to pursue civil proceedings to reclaim state funds.
Chisele’s arrest follows a sting operation that also led to the detention of Sergeant Papi Tsie, a Hawks member. The two appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday on corruption charges.
Authorities allege that on 21 November, Tsie approached a DPCI officer, claiming Chisele sought assistance to evade prosecution in the hospital corruption investigation.
Tsie reportedly indicated that a bribe would be offered. On 25 November, the pair allegedly met the investigating officer and handed over R100,000 in cash, leading to their immediate arrest by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.
The case has been postponed to 2 December for bail investigations and a bail application, with both accused remaining in custody.
The arrests come as pressure mounts on the Department of Health to accelerate the blacklisting of companies linked to the looting of more than R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital.
Previous investigations have implicated several individuals, including businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Hangwani Maumela, a nephew of President Cyril Ramaphosa from a previous marriage.
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