Gauteng Health head suspended

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has placed the Head of the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness, Lesiba Arnold Malotana, on suspension with immediate effect.

Dr Darion Barclay has been appointed as the Acting Head of the Department of Health and Wellness.

While not getting into the reasons behind the suspension, the Premier says that it shows a “commitment to root out maladministration and to uphold the highest standards of accountability and ethical leadership.”

“Dr Barclay, who currently leads the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), will ensure stability and continuity in this critical department and his appointment highlights the importance of prioritising seamless service delivery,” said Lesufi in a statement.

“The Gauteng Provincial Government reaffirms its full support for the work of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and other law enforcement agencies.”

Malotana’s suspension by Lesufi followed intense pressure, with ongoing SIU investigations highlighting systemic corruption in Gauteng’s health sector.

Malotana has faced significant controversies during his tenure. The SIU probed him for alleged tender-rigging involving BAS Medxpress, linked to R10 million in kickbacks from 2016, 2017 contracts, including R8 million from a R31 million Masakhane deal.

These allegations tied to broader Tembisa Hospital scandals, with over R2 billion in irregular payments to ghost suppliers.

A Public Protector report criticised Malotana for the irregular appointment of Tembisa’s CEO, fueling public outrage.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) launched a September 2024 petition for his removal, citing mismanagement, while parliamentary scrutiny questioned his qualifications, though cleared by the Public Service Commission.