The arrest of the most senior Health Department official for a corruption allegation shows that the National Health Insurance scheme will not work in South Africa. It would become the biggest pot of corruption feeding in decades.
While the DA welcomes the arrest of the Department of Health Director-General (DG) Dr Sandile Buthelezi by the Hawks yesterday, we are deeply concerned by what this means for the culture at the Department.
The decisive law enforcement action yesterday, does not free Minister of Health Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi from his obligation to place Dr Buthelezi on precautionary suspension while the investigation continues, to protect the credibility of the Department and maintain public trust in the process.
The DA rejects Motsoaledi’s statement that he is “in the dark about the arrest” – he is the responsible political head and his DG has been arrested by the Hawks. A suspension is the least he can and should do.
Where there is smoke there is fire.
In a recent response to a DA parliamentary question, Minister Dean Macpherson confirmed that the forensic investigation into the Bulkeng oxygen plant tender will now also examine the role of Health Department officials, including Dr Buthelezi, who allegedly approved the project despite concerns being raised about missing regulatory and compliance requirements.
Corruption in the health sector has real consequences for patients and healthcare workers. When public money is misused, hospitals suffer, services are delayed, and ordinary South Africans are left paying the price with their very lives.
The NHI will not work under a Department of Health like this.