The Department of Defence paid R21 million for medical equipment which was never used and had to be written off and destroyed

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, revealed that they spent R20.796 million on medical equipment which was never used.

This medical equipment, which had been gathering dust for years, was so old that it had to be destroyed or sold.

Motshekga revealed details of this debacle in response to a question about the refurbishment of the 1 Military Hospital.

She was also asked about the Auditor-General’s findings on a material irregularity involving unused medical equipment.

The Minister said that the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) confirmed the Auditor-General’s finding.

In March 2011, the South African Military Health Service, through the Department of Defence, bought medical equipment which cost R20,795,741.75.

• Bucky X-Ray Unit – R2,433,460.83
• Bucky X-Ray Unit – R2,433,460.83
• Bucky X-Ray Unit – R2,433,460.83
• Multislice CT Scanner – R10,154,873.76
• Mammography Machine – R3,340,485.50

This equipment was never used, which resulted in the Surgeon General convening a board of inquiry on 3 October 2018 to investigate the matter.

The investigation, which concluded on 4 December 2018, recommended that the department either find a use for the equipment or sell it to recoup costs.

Chief Logistics approved the recommendation to institute a disposal investigation (DI) for the redundant and obsolete medical equipment.

However, it was later found that auctioning obsolete medical machinery would be hazardous to patients, as these machines were outdated and old.

It was then suggested that an Armscor tender process should be used for those items that can be sold.

“The purpose was to gain more revenue than would have been earned from an auction,” Motshekga told Parliament.

The Logistics Division issued an instruction that the redundant and obsolete medical equipment would have to be written off to the auction centre in Centurion.

Motshekga added that the financial loss relating to the unused medical equipment at 1 Military Hospital was R20.795 million, indicating that all value was lost.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, investigated the matter, which was finalised on 2 June 2025.

However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute as the main suspect was deceased and has been confirmed by Home Affairs.

“There is no evidence linking the project manager to bribes from the service provider,” Motshekga added.