“The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health does keep us on the toes,” said Colonel Mhlongo of the Durban’s Commercial Crimes unit when they were called in by the department to arrest a Security Manager at Wentworth Hospital after he solicited a R5 000.00 bribe from the owner of a security company.
“We’re breaking new ground on some of these cases,” Colonel Mhlongo said. “We’re setting an example with our collaborative power. So we must maintain the highest standards of ethical behavior in government. The stakes of failure on that front are far too high.”
The department was alerted by the owner of a security company when he was asked to pay a monthly bribe of R5 000 by a security manager who said he was going to make false entries on the occurrence book so that the department would find the company incompetent and possibly remove his company from the premises. The security manager, who is to appear in the Durban Commercial Crimes court today, had already made such entries which will now form part of the evidence chain.
Working with the Durban’s Commercial Crimes Unit the money was tracked and when the service provider made the payment he alerted the department who moved swiftly to arrange for the arrest of the security manager at the hospital. A sum of R5 000.00 was found in the office of the manager.
“Our work begins and ends with the poor in mind,” said MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo. “Creating opportunities for people to take destiny into their own hands requires obstacles to be removed. One such obstacle is corruption.”
“We are happy that our service providers are coming forward with information on fraud and corruption. We hope other service providers will learn a lesson and not allow their businesses to be part of this disease. We can’t just wait for corruption to happen. We need to take preventive measures, to stop fraud and corruption wherever possible, before it happens – or at least make it harder, or less likely.”
Pictures available on request from Chris Maxon, 083 447 2869
