Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has revealed that the province’s head of the Department of Health, Lesiba Malotana, was suspended after failing a lifestyle audit.
Malotana was placed on precautionary suspension last week by Lesufi, pending an investigation.
However, while earlier reports suggested that Malotana’s suspension was connected to the alleged R2 billion looting at Tembisa Hospital, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko clarified during a media briefing last week that he was not among the officials implicated in that case.
Last year, the Gauteng government partnered with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to conduct lifestyle audits on senior managers in the province.
The development was revealed during a sitting of the Gauteng Legislature on Tuesday, in response to a question from Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of the Legislature (MPL), Dr Jack Bloom.
Bloom asked when Malotana’s lifestyle audit had started and concluded, whether he had been assessed as high or medium risk, and whether the premier agreed that he fell into the high-risk category since the SIU was reportedly investigating him for allegedly sharing R10 million in bribes with two other officials to influence the awarding of contracts.
He also asked whether the premier was satisfied with Malotana’s performance, given that the Department of Health had been flagged by the Auditor-General for non-compliance in every major area due to ineffective internal controls and irregular expenditure of R1.5 billion.
Bloom further questioned whether the premier still had confidence that Malotana was the best person to root out corruption in the department, including implementing the SIU’s recommendations on the R2 billion fraudulent Tembisa Hospital contracts.
In response, acting Premier Faith Mazibuko, who also serves as the MEC for Social Development, said a report on the Health HOD had been completed in August last year.
She said the Office of the Premier had entered into a secondment agreement with the SIU, which assigned staff to conduct lifestyle audits for the director-general, heads of departments and CEOs of housing entities.
“The project’s initial duration was six months, from May 2023 to October 2023,” Mazibuko said.
“However, the duration was extended due to the SIU’s processes. Consequently, the SIU submitted the final report to the premier on August 24, 2024.”
Responding to Bloom’s question about risk categorisation, Mazibuko said, “Mr Lesiba Malotana, the head of the Department of Health, was asked by the SIU to provide outstanding information to help determine the outcome of his lifestyle audit.”
She added that Malotana had provided the requested information, which the SIU then reviewed before submitting a final written report.
“The SIU rated Mr Malotana as high risk and recommended a full forensic investigation into his lifestyle,” she said.
Mazibuko confirmed that Lesufi was awaiting the final forensic report from the SIU and would study it before determining appropriate action.
“Regarding his performance, Mr Malotana was appointed to the position of head of department after demonstrating his capability to deliver in that position,” Mazibuko said.
“There are internal processes to assess the performance of all public servants, which take into account whether employees meet their set targets.”
“It is equally true that the department has a responsibility to assist employees where shortcomings affect their ability to meet performance targets,” she added.
Mazibuko said Lesufi had noted both the department’s performance and the outcome of the lifestyle audit and had requested the SIU to conduct a comprehensive forensic investigation into Malotana’s lifestyle.
“Hence, Mr Malotana has now been placed on precautionary suspension until the SIU completes its comprehensive forensic investigation,” she said.
“Lastly, regarding whether the premier has full confidence that he is the best person for the department, based on all the answers provided, this is not applicable,” Mazibuko added.
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