Hawks arrest DG, senior national health department officials Three senior officials from the national Department of Health were arrested on Monday morning, News24 has confirmed. The arrests, part of a corruption investigation linked to fraud and theft, were announced by Colonel Katlego Mogale, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigations, also known as the Hawks. The investigation, which began in April 2024, alleges that in 2023, over R1 million was improperly awarded to a service provider in violation of the Public Finance Management Act. Among those arrested was Sandile Buthelezi, the department’s director-general. Mogale did not disclose specific details about the charges or the identities of the other suspects. The third suspect, however, is described as the director of the company implicated in the case, which is also charged as a fifth juristic person due to the payments made to the firm. The fourth suspect, the company’s director, has not yet been taken into custody. The arrested officials are scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Mogale emphasized that the investigation involved an in-depth review of financial transactions, with the focus on the misuse of public funds. The case highlights ongoing concerns about financial misconduct within government departments, particularly in sectors responsible for public health services. The arrests have sparked discussions about accountability in public institutions, with critics calling for transparency in how such cases are handled. While the details of the alleged misconduct remain under investigation, the incident underscores the challenges of combating corruption in high-level administrative roles.#national_department_of_health #director_general #col_katlego_mogale #hawks #pretoria_specialised_commercial_crimes_court
