Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is constantly talking about his commitment to stamping out corruption. Instead of taking decisive action, he plays musical chairs with officials implicated in alleged corrupt activities, says the writer.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
As we approach Freedom Day, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: political freedom without accountability is hollow. The people of Gauteng are not free if their taxes are stolen, if justice is delayed indefinitely, and if those entrusted with public office face no consequences.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is constantly talking about his commitment to stamping out corruption. Instead of taking decisive action, he plays musical chairs with officials implicated in alleged corrupt activities.
Arnold Lesiba Malotana, former Head of Department in the Gauteng Department of Health, stands at the centre of serious allegations of corruption. This includes allegations of tender-rigging, claims of bribery, and ongoing investigations by the Special Investigating Unit. He was moved around in August 2025, suspended in October 2025, and then appointed to a senior management position in the Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs department. Many other officials in Gauteng are involved in corruption and continue to be protected by Lesufi's government.
This is not an isolated case. The scandal at Tembisa Hospital exposed how public funds meant for healthcare were allegedly looted through inflated tenders. Officials such as Lerato Madyo, former CFO, and Ashley Mthunzi, the former CEO, were suspended years ago. To date, disciplinary processes remain incomplete, with no meaningful consequences. Mthunzi has since passed away, and the truth is buried with him. Meanwhile, key evidence has reportedly been lost or stolen, and whistleblower Babita Deokaran was brutally murdered for exposing the alleged corruption.
Corruption steals directly from funds set aside to improve residents' lives. In Tembisa, the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) found that spending on medical supplies dropped by three-quarters after the graft was uncovered. This had a direct impact on nurses and patients as a result of the shortage of medicines. The reality that Gauteng is the epicentre of corruption in South Africa, revealed in the numerous appearances of officials before the Madlanga Commission.
The truth is, in Gauteng, corruption carries no real consequences for the culprits. Even more alarming is the consistent failure to act on forensic reports, Public Protector findings, and internal recommendations. Premier Lesufi has repeatedly refused to release the Lifestyle audits report, indicating his willingness to protect and defend corruption. Senior officials continue to live lavishly while hospitals crumble and communities suffer.
A Democratic Alliance (DA) led Gauteng provincial government would implement mandatory, transparent lifestyle audits for all senior officials and MECs, with results made public. We would ensure that performance agreements for MECs are signed, monitored, and enforced. We will also fight to ensure that those implicated in corruption are held accountable through real consequences, including criminal prosecution.
Ruhan Robinson MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Finance