Public interest organisations SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign on Tuesday stated that the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU’s) investigation into the Free State and North West Health Departments’ contract for procurement of aero-medical services and patient transport services is a promising indication of the government’s commitment to holding public servants to account.

The two ground ambulance contracts in question are with Buthelezi EMS, while the aeromedical contract is with Buthelezi HEMS – a joint venture between Buthelezi EMS and HALO Aviation.

This follows a two-year-long investigation into dodgy contracts awarded to Buthelezi in more than five provinces by Spotlight, a joint SECTION27 and TAC publication.

The SIU will, amongst others, investigate allegations that public money has been used illegitimately.

Irregularities

The Democratic Alliance (DA) also welcomed the promulgation in the Government Gazette on 12 July 2019 of the SIU investigation into the Free State Health Department’s contract for procurement of aero-medical services and patient transport service.

“We pointed out several irregularities - such as that the company registration details of each contractor either laid dormant, or were established just prior to the awarding of these contracts; the DA is of the opinion that the Halo Aviation contract, in joint venture with Buthelezi EMS for emergency air transportation of patients are extremely inflated,” explained the DA.

The DA went on to say that it finds irregular that under a contract for medical air transportation services, the same company will also refurbish or construct new infrastructure to support this service, a function which lies with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

SECTION27 concludes that this investigation is an encouraging trend and hopes to see more of this kind of responsiveness in relation to other allegations of malfeasance within the State.