By OBAKENG MAJE
The Director at the North West Department of Health, Ntelaleng Matlapeng (59) and the former Director of the North West Department of Health, Elliot Motene (49), briefly appeared in the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on 28 May 2024, facing charges of fraud.
Matlapeng and Motene were arrested on 28 May 2024, by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said Matlapeng and Motene’s arrests emanate from an investigation into tender irregularities between 2008 and 2009, when the North West Provincial Government (NWPG), sought to build two hospitals in Moses Kotane Hospital IN Ledig and Joe Morolog Memorial Hospital in Vryburg.
“Investigation revealed that the accused certified payment vouchers for exchange rates of R75 million when the contract and specifications did not allow the exchange rates to be claimed.
“Matlapeng faces one count of fraud, while Motene faces two counts of fraud. The accused were released on R5000 bail and their case was postponed to 30 May 2024, where they will appear alongside the other five accused,” he said.
Mathebula further said former Head of Department (HOD) at the North West Department of Health, Dr Andrew Lekalakala (58), is facing charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and two of fraud. He added that the former North West Provincial Government Director-General (DG), Dr Lydia Sebego (63), who is also the former Head of the Department (HOD) at the North West Department of Health, facing two charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act.
“The Chief Director at the North West Department of Health, Vuyo Mbulawa (54), is charged with ten counts of fraud, while Roulph Lotwane Mabe (68), who is a service provider, is facing six counts of fraud. Joseph Leshabane (61), who is also a service provider, is facing six charges of fraud.
“The charges against the two former heads of the department related to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that were signed between the two companies and their directors on services that needed to be rendered to the two hospitals,” said Mathebula.
He said the services were, however, not rendered, while these companies allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices, which were paid by the department after being authorised by Mbulawa. Mathebula said this allegedly led to a loss of over R86 million to the department paid to Mabe’s company, and over R49 million was paid to Leshabane’s company.
“The state’s evidence further reveals that the two HODs signed the SLAs, while they knew that the two companies were not compliant and did not meet the requirements,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, have welcomed the additional arrests.
The Guardian 