The Public Servants Association (PSA) is concerned about allegations that the Limpopo Department of Health has issued coal supply tenders for 14 hospitals that do not have coal facilities and have never used coal before.

The allegations are extremely concerning, noting that the Department was previously named in corruption scandals for cell-phone contracts and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PSA is concerned that the Department might be taking advantage of the current energy crisis the same way it did during the pandemic, by collaborating with unscrupulous service providers to swindle the Department.
 
The fraudulent awarding of tenders has cost the Department vast amounts and it would thus have been expected that the Department would be more cautious and diligent after experiencing numerous scandals that resulted in investigations by the Special Investigation Unit.
 
The PSA calls on the MEC of Health to act in accordance with the Public Service Charter (Batho Pele), where government has committed to embrace the principles of transparency and openness. Failure to urgently address and investigate these allegations will be a failure of accountability by the very government that is claiming to be committed to fight corruption. Limpopo is already suffering under staff shortages at health institutions, loadshedding, dilapidated government buildings, useless work tools and cannot afford another act of corruption. The MEC must act decisively against those found to be part of any form of corruption. 

Issued by The Public Servants Association