Gauteng health official facing fraud allegations appointed Johannesburg public safety head
Lesiba Malotana, a former Gauteng health department official linked to fraud allegations at Tembisa Hospital, has been appointed head of department for Johannesburg鈥檚 public safety portfolio. The Special Investigating Unit SIU conducted a lifestyle audit on Malotana in 2025, recommending a forensic investigation into his potential benefits from relationships with service providers implicated in fraud. Malotana, who served the Gauteng health department for over a decade, was suspended from his acting head of department role in October 2025 by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi due to SIU allegations. The SIU's Tembisa Hospital investigation found that Malotana's company received at least R1.6 million in undisclosed cash payments from service providers involved in manipulated procurement processes. Despite these allegations, the City of Johannesburg appointed Malotana on a permanent contract from September 1, subject to a six-month probation, regular lifestyle audits, and a commitment to disclose adverse investigative findings. The city stated it has implemented rigorous contractual safeguards to mitigate risks. Jack Bloom, former Democratic Alliance shadow MEC for health and now deputy minister for water and sanitation, expressed dismay at the appointment, citing Malotana's failed lifestyle audit and SIU investigation. Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga questioned how officials implicated in wrongdoing can move between government appointments, calling for a blacklist of such officia