FRAUD AND PFMA CONTRAVENTION CASE AGAINST FORMER HEALTH HOD AND CO-ACCUSED POSTPONED FOR CONSULTATIONS

FRAUD AND PFMA CONTRAVENTION CASE AGAINST FORMER HEALTH HOD AND CO-ACCUSED POSTPONED FOR CONSULTATIONS

The Molopo Magistrates’ Court postponed the case against Dr Andrew Lekalakala (58), the former head of department at the North West Department of Health, and his co-accused, Joseph Leshabane (61), to 08 March 2024, for consultations. The state is also expected to provide the defence attorneys with all the necessary documents by 09 February 2024 for consultations. Lekalakala is facing two charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and two of fraud, and he was granted R10 000 bail. Leshabane is charged with his company, Raliform Investment, on six counts of fraud amounting to over R49 million, and he was granted R50 000 bail.

The two were arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Units on Monday, 02 October 2023, around Mahikeng. Their matter is linked to the case of Lydia Keneilwe Sebego (63), former Head of Department at the North West Department of Health, Vuyo Mbulawa (54), Chief Director at the North West Department of Health, and Roulgh Lotwane Mabe (69), a service provider, who appeared before the court on Friday, 29 September 2023. The court granted Sebego R10 000 bail, Mbulawa
R20 000 and Mabe R100 000. The case has been combined and all the accused, including the two former HODs, will appear on the same date.

Sebego is facing two charges of Contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Mbulawa is facing ten charges of fraud, and Mabe is charged with six counts of fraud.
During the years 2008 to 2009, the North West sought to build two hospitals in Ledig [Moses Kotane Hospital] and Vryburg [Joe Morolong Hospital]. A tender was subsequently awarded to MR Property (Pty)Ltd, a company belonging to Mabe.

The charges against the two former heads of the department related to Service Level Agreements that were signed between the two companies and their directors on services that needed to be rendered to the two hospitals. The said services were, however, not rendered, while these companies allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices, which were paid by the department after being authorised by Mbulawa. This allegedly led to a loss of over R86 million to the Department of Health, paid to Mabe’s company, and over R49 million paid to Leshabane’s company. The state’s evidence further reveals that the two HODs signed the Service Level Agreements, while they knew that the two companies were not compliant and did not meet the requirements.

Meanwhile, Dr Lekalala has a separate pending case, where he is charged with two counts of fraud and one of contravening the PFMA. He allegedly fraudulently awarded a contract for sourcing mobile clinics to Mediosa Health, a company linked to the Gupta family. He is out on R5000, and the matter is back in court on 12 February 2024, for further trial.

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari, together with the Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho, laude the prosecution and investigation team to ensure that the matter reaches the trial phase through their collaborative efforts.