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Gauteng ANC chief whip, Brian Hlongwa. Photo by Sonqoba Kunene
- Brian Hlongwa has questioned the arrest warrants after four former high-level employees appeared in court for corruption of a 1.2 billion rand tender.
- Hlongwa said it was the NPA who had to decide who to prosecute.
- He said corruption allegations have been made against him since 2007.
Former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa declined calls for his arrest after four former senior employees in the department appeared in court for R1.2 billion bidding corruption on Thursday.
“Isn’t it the NPA that decides who to prosecute or not? Why should I be arrested? Why should I be arrested?” he told News24 over the phone.
“The decisions of the prosecution are made by the NPA. Charges have been made against me and I am not arrested. We are talking about something that happened 13 years ago. Why should I be arrested? I have nothing to say,” Hlongwa said.
NPA national spokesperson Sipho Ngwema told News24 that they had not ruled out further arrests.
Ngwema said: “The investigations have not been completed. We cannot say who is inside and who is outside. I don’t know if he [Hlongwa] will be arrested. We should expect more action in relation to this case. “
In a statement Thursday, DA Gauteng and MPL health spokesman Jack Bloom asked why Hlongwa was not at the dock alongside Sybil Ngcobo, Mmakgosi Mosupi, Valdis Romaano and Obakeng Mookeletsi.
“I have long suspected that the long delay in bringing this case to trial is due to the fact that Hlongwa had political protection. The Gauteng health department has not yet recovered from its disastrous tenure when financial controls and service provision were dissolved. suffered, “said Bloom.
“There should be no fear or favoritism to ensure that Hlongwa is also held accountable alongside others in this matter.”
Ngcobo received a bond of R8,000, while Mosupi, Ramaano and Mookeletsi obtained a bond of R25,000 each from the Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge on Thursday.
They were accused of corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Law.
The defendants held the following Gauteng health posts: Ngcobo was the former department head and accountant; Mosupi was the former chief director of information and communications technology; Romaano was the former director of supply chain management; and Mookeletsi, Deputy CEO, Director of the Executive Support Program.
John Richard Payne and Phil Austin, and their respective companies, Ukwakha Dezign (Pty) Ltd and Life Channel Communications (Pty) Ltd, were expected to appear alongside the four accused of corruption.
However, their arrest warrants could not be executed because they are out of the country.
The Hawks’ investigation followed an investigation by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which was authorized by former President Jacob Zuma in May 2010.
The SIU was required to investigate the procurement and contracting of goods and services with respect to the provision of a Health Information System and electronic medical records by the department during or around December 2007.
They also had to investigate all the irregularities surrounding the contract.
News24 previously reported that the SIU report linked Hlongwa to corruption while he was in office between 2006 and 2009.
The Gauteng health department has approved an open bidding process for these systems, subject to confirmation of funding from the Gauteng Treasury, Ngwema said.
Subsequently, the tender was awarded to the Baoki Consortium, at an estimated cost of R630 million.
“However, the final total value of the tender awarded to the Baoki Consortium was R1 045 174 125.12”.
The negotiation of the systems implementation agreement for the department was handled by 3P Consulting on their behalf.
In its report, the SIU uncovered evidence of several trips, funded by 3P Consulting, for Hlongwa and some department officials during 2006-2009, News24 reported.
“No evidence was obtained that Hlongwa declared the trips or paid / reimbursed 3P Consulting for these trips,” reads part of the report.
Hlongwa previously said that the SIU report was nothing new and a ploy “to embarrass the Gauteng ANC.”
“In October 2014, the Hawks informed me that they had issued an arrest warrant against my arrest, again, regarding the same allegations that are now summarized in the SIU Report. I made arrangements to turn myself over to the Hawks,” He said. he said at the time.
“My legal representatives had already prepared affidavits in support of the inevitable request for bail when the Hawks informed me that, at that time, they would not proceed with my arrest. I am not aware of their reasons.”
