Corruption case involving Hawks officer, Tembisa Hospital employee postponed. Image credit: SABC
(The Post News)- The corruption case involves a Hawks officer and a Tembisa Hospital employee. It has been postponed to next week. After the pair briefly appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday, 24 November 2025.
According to reports, the two were arrested on Sunday. An undercover operation allegedly caught them attempting to bribe a fellow Hawks investigator.
DPCI says The Suspect Tried to Bribe the Investigator
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) reported that the suspects tried to influence the investigator. They attempted to halt or manipulate a probe into large-scale corruption at Tembisa Hospital. The facility has been at the center of a widening scandal. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) reported in September that R2 billion intended for healthcare services had been misappropriated. These funds were lost through questionable tenders.
Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo said the arrest followed a sting operation. It was set up after a sergeant within the DPCI approached an investigator. The sergeant mentioned a “meeting” with a hospital official seeking assistance.
“On Friday, 21 November 2025, a 41-year-old suspect allegedly approached an officer. This suspect is a sergeant from the DPCI (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation). The suspect is a sergeant from the DPCI. The sergeant informed the officer about a meeting request. A 53-year-old Tembisa Hospital official wanted to discuss an ongoing investigation linked to the hospital.
“The sergeant further indicated that the hospital official required assistance. The official was willing to offer gratification to avoid prosecution in the ongoing investigation. On Sunday, 23 November 2025, the Hawks member and the Tembisa hospital official met with the complainant. They handed over R100 000 cash as gratification,” said Mbambo.
Gauteng DA MEC Welcomes the Arrest
The DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, welcomed the swift action. He noted the significance of accountability within law enforcement.
Bloom said, “We need to interrogate everybody there. We need to find out who most benefited from it. Then, we must recover the money as soon as possible. Finally, we should ensure that they are prosecuted.” He commended the Hawks for taking action even when it involved one of their own members.
Earlier this year, the SIU revealed shocking news. Billions of rands in taxpayers’ money had allegedly been siphoned from the hospital. This occurred through a network of irregular tenders.
Both suspects stay in custody as the case continues to unfold. They are expected to reappear in the Pretoria Magistrates Court next week.
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