Tembisa Hospital is back in the spotlight after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed the arrest of an employee linked to a multimillion-rand corruption scheme.
The update follows the SIU’s recent success in securing a preservation order worth R900 million in assets linked to one of the alleged syndicates operating at the hospital.
In addition, the SIU preserved assets valued at about R133.5 million in October 2025.
TEMBISA HOSPITAL CORRUPTION: ARREST FOLLOWS MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION
The SIU announced that officials arrested Zacharia Tshisele, a hospital employee accused of receiving unlawful payments from service providers over several years.
Investigators uncovered evidence showing that he pocketed illicit funds between January 2020 and September 2023.
Additionally, the SIU referred the case for prosecution in April 2025, marking a critical moment in its ongoing efforts to clean up procurement systems.
TEMBISA HOSPITAL CORRUPTION TOTALS OVER R122 MILLION
The arrest is part of a broader and deeper investigation into Tembisa Hospital corruption.
The SIU reported that corrupt payments linked to employees at the facility and the Gauteng Department of Health amount to more than R122 million.
At least 15 former and current officials were implicated in schemes involving money laundering, bid rigging, and collusion.
Investigators expect this number to rise as more evidence surfaces.
SIU RECOVERS R13.5 MILLION FROM OFFICIAL
In a significant breakthrough, Tshisele repaid more than R13.5 million in November 2025.
The SIU confirmed that this repayment represents only a portion of the money he gained through the scheme.
The unit says civil action to recover additional funds is still underway.
It further says the recovered amount offers some relief to a system already strained by financial mismanagement and rising service demands.
MORE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS UNDERWAY
To strengthen accountability, the SIU prepared 116 disciplinary referrals against 13 officials across Gauteng’s health sector.
Most of these referrals deal with maladministration and irregular appointments at the hospital.
The unit’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, emphasised its commitment to restoring trust in public institutions and ensuring the responsible use of state resources.
