Motsoaledi reveals in his testimony at the Bloemfontein High Court on Thursday that the first time he ever heard of the deceased and Stanley Bakili, was on 25 November 2018. On this day the provincial head of the Health Department, David Motau, sent the Minister a copy of an article in the local newspaper Die Volksblad which alleged Bakili had conceded in an official affidavit that he had paid Motsoaledi a R154 000 bribe to have CityMed’s application to amend their hospital license for more beds expedited. Siemens was the Managing Director of the above-mentioned day hospital.

It has also been revealed via cell phone records presented in court that Siemens was communicating via WhatsApp with a person he believed to be Motsoaledi from 2017 till 2018. Motsoaledi testified that he never messaged Siemens but had the impression from reading a copy of the messages that the CityMed MD was unequivocally convinced that he was chatting to the former Health Minister.

Bakili’s legal counsel Masilo Koenane says his client maintains he has never written such an affidavit implicating Motsoaledi. He further states that while he was aware of Motsoaledi as a public figure, he had never engaged him in person or via correspondence. The affidavit in question was not presented in court.

Motsoaledi further maintains the issue of hospital licenses lies with the provincial health department and not his office.

Two government officials and a local businessman have already attested to this. The government officials - former Free State Health MEC, Benny Malakoane, and Pinky Belot, both testified that Motsoaledi had no role in the matter, but both Siemens and Bakili expressed interest in speaking to the Minister during their meetings. 

The state’s first witness in the trial, 42-year-old local businessman Sello Matthew Rantso, explained on 31 October 2019 that a moratorium was placed on the awarding of contracts and appointments at the provincial health department from 2013 to September 2017.  This would explain the reasons behind the need to involve Motsoaledi in the matter. Rantso did clarify to the business partners that only the department’s hospital licensing committee and department head, Motau, would make the decision on CityMed’s application.

As already reported, Siemens was shot and killed on 10 May 2018 in the basement parking area of Preller Square Shopping Complex. It is alleged the deceased was paying bribes to government officials through accused number one, Stanley Bakili, to have CityMed’s hospital bed licence amended to allow for more beds, when the business partnership soured.  Bakili joins Molebatsi Mogoera, Kagiso Chabane, Mojalefa Jali Molusi, Moeketsi Lesia, Clive Tshivenga Karabo Tau and Sizwe Mpati in the dock. They are between the ages of 29 and 56, and include three police officers, a disbarred advocate, an accused in separate double murder cases, and a military man.

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