By Thapelo Molefe
A Tembisa Hospital official and a Hawks sergeant appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing corruption charges related to an alleged R100 000 bribe.
The accused, Zacharia Chisele, 53, and Sergeant Papi Tsie, 41, are alleged to have handed the cash to a Hawks investigator during a meeting on Sunday.
“During the meeting, it is alleged that the two gave the Hawks official a gratification of R100 000 for Chisele to avoid prosecution in an ongoing investigation,” said the NPA Regional Spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
The court has postponed the matter to next week Monday for bail investigations and a bail application.
The arrests follow a Hawks sting operation authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions, which led to both suspects being apprehended immediately after handing over the cash.
Acting Hawks head Lieutenant General Siphosihle Nkosi previously commended the investigating officer for refusing to concede to the criminal solicitation, saying the directorate “remains committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, and remains steadfast in the fight against corruption”.
The case comes amid continued calls for the Department of Health to fast-track the blacklisting of companies linked to the looting of over R2 billion at Tembisa Hospital, a scandal that has previously implicated networks linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew, Hangwani Maumela, and controversial tenderpreneur, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
The Hawks said investigations into corruption at Tembisa Hospital will continue without deterrence.
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