NUPSAW welcomes the arrest of the DG of National Department of Health
National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) welcomes the arrest of the Director-General (DG) for the National Department of Health (NDoH), Mr Sandile Buthelezi. He, together with two other senior officials were arrested this morning, 02 March 2026 following a two-years long investigation into a corrupt tender award.
According to reports, Hawks launched an investigation in 2024, into an irregularly awarded contract worth R1 million to a service provider in 2023. It is alleged that the tender award contravened the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
NUPSAW welcomes and commends the work of the Hawks and we feel it is long overdue as the rot of looting and corruption that has embroiled the government departments, especially the NDoH has been going on for quite some time now. More still needs to be done to ensure that the public finances are accounted for. These are funds that were meant to ensure the working class receive quality healthcare and their lives are saved.
We therefore call on the people responsible for the investigations to ensure that they leave no stone unturned in making sure that justice is served and the perpetrators face the full might of the law. It is sad that the public healthcare system is continuing to deteriorate, budgets are cut, post are not filled but money that is dedicated to alleviate those challenges are being misused by corrupt and unscrupulous government officials. These funds could have been used to assist in improving the public health system, employing all CHWs, EPWPs, all contract workers and filling up vacant posts in the Department of Health. The NDoH needs dedicated people who care about the health and wellbeing of the public as well as being considerate to the employees, to steer it, as the majority of the working class are depended on the very same collapsing public healthcare system.
It is uncalled for that the people entrusted with public funds and ensuring quality healthcare continue to enrich themselves rather than utilising them for their intention and also creating jobs for those in dire need and deserving.
~ENDS~
For more information and media enquiries contact:
NUPSAW Media Liaison officer Neo Lebethe on 069 742 4004