The spokesperson of the department, Lebogang Majaha, says both officials - the Chief Financial Officer, Mosimanagape Gaborone, and Acting Head of the department, Dion Theys - are on precautionary suspension whilst investigations are undertaken. 

The two officials were arrested earlier by the Hawks on charges related to allegations about a tender for personal protective equipment (PPE) to the value at R43 million that was allegedly awarded without the correct tender procedures. 

The duo is facing charges of fraud and contravening the Public Finance Management Act. Majaha says Health MEC Maruping Lekwene also met with the department’s Executive Management Team to re-emphasise the need to strengthen governance processes and internal controls. 

Majaha says Lekwene is set to brief a joint sitting of the Northern Cape Legislature's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) and the Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development on the situation next week. 

Meanwhile, he says, other senior managers in the department will act in their positions.

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