KWAZULU-NATAL – On Tuesday 30 May 2023, Dr Sibongile Zungu (60) a former KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health (HOD) and Sifiso Mtshali (53) briefly appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud and contravention of Public Finance Management Act.
It is alleged that during 2013, the KZN Department of Health awarded a 36-month lease to Mzansi Life-Care for the hiring of a mobile clinic. The contract was further extended without following supply chain management process.
In 2016, the Department awarded Mzansi Life-Care a contract for the outright purchase of four mobile clinics to the value of R32 million without following any supply chain management process. The vehicles were registered under Mzansi Life-Care instead of the Department.
The roadworthy certificates were not obtained by the Department and the vehicles were parked for three years. It is alleged that the Director of Mzansi Life Care, Nandi Msimang fraudulently removed the four mobile clinics and sold them as a result the department suffered a loss of R32 million.
A case of fraud was reported at Pietermaritzburg police station and the case docket was allocated to the Durban based Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation for an intensive probe. A warrant of arrest has been issued for Nandi and the Hawks are looking for her in connection with this case.
Anyone with information of her whereabouts is urged to contact Captain Pillay on 071 481 3789. Dr Zungu and Mtshali were released on warning and the case was postponed to 4 August 2023.