TEMBISA HOSPITAL LOOTERS EXPOSED, SIU FREEZES R42,4 M

Staff Writer / Sun, 27 Sept 2026

The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Tembisa Hospital tender crooks.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a massive R42,4 million in cash, luxury houses, pensions and investments linked to bribes at the hospital.

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The money is linked to businessman Stefan Joel Govindraju, who allegedly paid R100 million in bribes to hospital bosses to score tenders worth R600 million.

SIU Spokesperson Selby Makgotho confirmed the big bust in a voice note sent to the media.

Makgotho said the Special Investigating Unit has secured approximately R42.4 million in cash, properties, pensions and investments linked to the R100 million in bribes allegedly paid by businessman Stefan Joel Govindraju to officials at Tembisa Hospital to secure procurement deals worth approximately R600 million.

The Special Tribunal last month granted the SIU a preservation order. The order stops former theatre Operational Manager Zacharia Tshisele, his two wives Phumudzo Tshisele and Fulufhelo Lineth Tshililo, and their associates Joseph Fhumulani Muthaphuli and Ernest Monnakgotla from selling anything.

Monnakgotla is the former Area Manager and member of the Quotation Adjudication Committee at Tembisa Hospital.

The Tribunal also blocked Tshisele’s pension of R1,08 million and froze two houses – one in Birchleigh North, Kempton Park worth R1,3 million and another in Delmore Park, Boksburg worth R820,000.

According to the SIU, Tshisele abused his position since 2017. He pushed transactions worth R15,9 million, each kept below R500,000 to dodge competitive bidding. The goods were not even delivered!

Makgotho revealed how the loot was spent: “Funds from the Govindraju syndicate were channelled through Create 10, co-directed by Tshisele, Monnakgotla and Muthaphuli. These financed properties, mining ventures, and a film project.”

The SIU found that R17,5 million was invested in Manngwe Mining and Solmag Mining, while R15,5 million went to a movie called “The Bad Bishop”.

And in a shocking twist, Makgotho said: “Notably, R1.5 million was transferred into the account of Tshisele’s nine-year-old daughter.”

The Tribunal has ordered that all mining and movie money must be paid into the trust account of SIU lawyers pending the final case.

Tshisele is already paying back. Last year he signed an Acknowledgement of Debt.

“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,” Makgotho said.

The SIU has also frozen a R6,4 million luxury property in Midstream Estate and R1,8 million pension belonging to another official, Duduzile Nobungwana.

The SIU has referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for criminal action. Govindraju was arrested last month on 70 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering and corruption.

Anyone with more info can contact SIU Spokesperson Selby Makgotho on 083 718 6128 or SIUMedia@siu.org.za

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