Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite by Dr Jack Bloom MPL.
The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng commends the swift action of the Hawks in apprehending a Tembisa Hospital official who attempted to bribe a police sergeant with R100 000 to avoid prosecution in the investigation into corrupt tenders worth R2.3 billion. This shows that the rot in Tembisa Hospital continues , and people are desperate to cover their tracks.
Both the Sergeant and the unidentified 53-year-old Tembisa Hospital official were arrested yesterday and will appear today in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on charges of corruption.
This attempted bribery involving a large sum of money shows that officials are desperate to cover their tracks. They need to be rigorously interrogated so we know who instigated and scored the most from the wholesale looting. This will assist in recovering as much money as possible through asset forfeiture.
The DA will not sit by idly but will monitor all developments to ensure the rot at Tembisa Hospital is eliminated for the benefit of patients who continue to suffer from short-staffing and poor facilities.