Freedom Front Plus welcomes arrest of National Health Department officials

Image: courtesy of FF Plus

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes today's arrest of three National Department of Health officials in connection with alleged theft and fraud.

The arrests stem from a comprehensive police investigation that began in April 2024. It relates to allegations that more than R1 million was unlawfully awarded to service providers in 2023. 

According to reports, the Hawks are investigating the matter and the three officials have already appeared in court. They were released on bail of R10 000 each. The case has been postponed to 3 June 2026.     

The Freedom Front Plus was not surprised to learn that the Director-General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, is reportedly one of the suspects. The Department’s Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Director-General for Tertiary Health Services and Hospital Systems were also arrested.

The Department of Health continues to be plagued by numerous corruption scandals originating from within the Department, with the Digital Vibes tender scandal still fresh in the memory.

The Digital Vibes report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which was finally released by President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2021 after considerable pressure from the Freedom Front Plus and others, had recommended immediate criminal investigations and the prosecution of all those implicated. 

At the time, it was also recommended that disciplinary steps be instituted against Dr Sandile Buthelezi, who had been suspended as Director-General of the Department. 

He should have faced charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering at that point. The Freedom Front Plus stated at the time that the implicated individuals, including Zweli Mkhize, should be imprisoned for their lawless actions; adding that the public was tired of corruption, fraud and the accompanying impunity.

The case against Mkhize is still before the Special Tribunal.

In June 2021, the Tribunal granted an order freezing assets worth R22 million pending the finalisation of a review application. The SIU sought an order setting aside contracts awarded to Digital Vibes. These contracts were valued at R266 million.    

The Tembisa scandal, which the SIU exposed in September 2025, that saw approximately R2 billion looted from the hospital’s coffers and an official murdered also still hangs like a sword over the Department of Health.

The investigation is still ongoing.

The Freedom Front Plus and South African public are sick and tired of watching funds that should have been used to save lives disappear into the pockets of ANC cadres. This is exactly what brought the entire public healthcare system to its knees; but the ANC thinks it can merely wave the magic NHI wand and make all these problems disappear.

The Freedom Front Plus calls for justice to take its course and hopes that these corrupt officials will be duly punished by the criminal justice system.