HPCSA: Minister Joe Phaahla SU

Health Minister Joe Phaahla
Image source: Flickr

HPCSA: Minister Joe Phaahla SUSPENDS CEO amid misconduct probe

This comes less than a month after Dr David Motau’s suspension, initially implemented by Mmamoloko Kubayi, was reversed

HPCSA: Minister Joe Phaahla SU

Health Minister Joe Phaahla
Image source: Flickr

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has placed the Chief Executive Officer of The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Dr David Motau on precautionary suspension.

This is a complete U-turn on Phaahla’s part, having initially lifted Motau’s suspension, which was implemented by the then Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi earlier in August.

In a statement on Wednesday, 25 August 2021, the HPCSA said Motau’s suspension was pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. He is currently out on bail after being arrested for allegedly orchestrating a R8.7 million tender fraud scheme during his tenure as head of health in the Free State between 2011 and 2015.

“Dr Motau was arrested on Monday, 02 August 2021. He appeared at the Bloemfontein Magistrate‘s Court alongside other twelve suspects and was released on bail. The precautionary suspension of the registrar/CEO is to maintain the integrity of the Council whilst investigations are conducted,” said Prof Simon Nemutandani, president of the HPCSA.

Motau’s suspension from the council came into effect on Wednesday.

David Motau’s fraud and corruption case

The case against him and more than a dozen other accused in the matter will be heard on 22 September, at the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court.

“It is alleged that during the course of the regulatory audit in the Department of Health, the audit team from the auditor-general requested information on certain payments to service providers and subsequently queried the procurement processes that were followed,” said Hawks spokesperson Capt Christopher Singo.

“As a result, an internal investigation followed whereby it was discovered that false or forged ‘requests for payment advices’ were submitted during the period of January 2011 to December 2015 for payments with regards to the service providers”

Authorities allege that there is still no trace of evidence that the actual services were rendered by the service providers.