The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained preservation orders for approximately R42.4 million in assets allegedly linked to syndicates that paid bribes to officials at Tembisa Hospital. This follows a Special Tribunal order granted last month, freezing assets belonging to Zacharia Tshisele, his wives, and entities connected to them. The SIU investigation revealed that Tshisele and others worked with syndicates to siphon funds from the hospital.
The assets frozen include cash, properties, pensions, and investments. The properties, valued at approximately R2.1 million, are located in Kempton Park and Boksburg. Additionally, the Government Employees Pension Fund and Government Pensions Administration Agency were restrained from paying out Tshisele's pension, valued at R1,089,808.32. The SIU also froze investments in mining ventures and a film project.
According to the SIU, two major syndicates operated at Tembisa Hospital, linked to Tshisele. The Govindraju syndicate, run by Stefan Joel Govindraju, used 75 companies to trade with the hospital and received approximately R600 million. Govindraju was arrested in August and granted R200,000 bail. The second syndicate, the Mazibuko syndicate, operated using 17 companies and received approximately R283 million.
The SIU investigation found that Tshisele, as Operational Manager of the hospital's theatre, abused his position to initiate supply chain processes and confirm receipt of goods, enabling payments to syndicate-linked companies. He was directly involved in transactions worth approximately R15.9 million, each kept below the R500,000 threshold to avoid competitive bidding. These transactions often involved unnecessary or undelivered goods.
Funds from the Govindraju syndicate were channelled through Create 10, co-directed by Tshisele, Ernest Monnakgotla, and Joseph Fhumulani Muthaphuli. These funds financed properties, mining ventures, and a film project. Tshisele and Monnakgotla invested R17.5 million in Manngwe Mining and Solmag Mining, while R15.5 million was advanced towards the production of a movie.
In 2025, Tshisele signed an Acknowledgement of Debt with the SIU, committing to repay unlawfully obtained funds. He has since repaid R13,530,894.27 in four instalments. Manngwe Mining also agreed to repay R17.5 million over 36 months. The SIU obtained an order freezing a R6.4 million luxury property and R1.8 million in pension benefits belonging to former Tembisa Hospital official Duduzile Nobungwana.
The SIU has referred evidence of criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action. This referral led to Govindraju's arrest on multiple charges, including 70 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering, and corruption-related offences. The SIU continues civil proceedings to recover losses suffered by the State, bringing the total value of preserved cash and assets to approximately R42.4 million.
Key points
- The SIU secures R42.4m in assets linked to Tembisa Hospital bribery syndicates.
- Zacharia Tshisele and others allegedly worked with syndicates to siphon funds from the hospital.
- The SIU investigation led to the arrest of Stefan Joel Govindraju on multiple charges.
