By Thokozani Mazibuko
The Auditor General disclosed in the financial report that an account was opened with a financial institution but was not declared to the Principal Secretary (PS) and the Auditor General (AG).
The AG highlighted that when the account was opened, an amount of E4.3 million was deposited without following the proper procedure, which involved declaring it to the office of the Auditor General and the Principal Secretary.
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“There are funds amounting to E17 million deposited into this account from the Ministry of Health. When an audit was conducted by the AG’s Office, they failed to produce documentation and disclose the signatories of the account,” said Samkele Motsa from the AG’s office to the members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Dr. Velephi Okello, the Director of Health Services, confirmed that the account was not declared to the office of the Auditor General.
“We are currently addressing these discrepancies, and all accounts will be declared accordingly. This account was initially opened for the Cancer registration project but was later closed and repurposed.
“We are since using this account to pay and cater for Cuban doctors, we have even their list with us,” Dr Okello responded to the PAC.
MP Tsembeni Magongo punched holes on this anomality. “The fact that this account was not declared to the AG is an obvious sign that something was shady in the Ministry of Health,” the MP pointed out.
Ngwemphisi MP, Bhekibandla Vilakati told the PAC that the Anti-Corruption Commission should be roped in to check out this anomality.
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Meanwhile, Dr Velephi Okello informed the PAC that the Ministry was using the money to cater for the security of the Cuban Doctors, however, she pointed out that they were engaged and are working without contracts.
Matsanjeni South MP Sabelo Ngcamphalala stated that it was anomaly to engage Cuban Doctors without contract.
“This money should be returned to Government, all the money used to pay security companies which you claim are protecting doctors was not supposed to paid to them,” pointed out the MP.
