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The Free State Health Department has taken a significant step in combating corruption within its ranks.

The department has suspended four employees suspected of engaging in the manipulation of the hiring processes and payroll management, allegedly facilitating the existence of ghost workers within the system. Free State Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, said three Human Resource officers and one clerk were suspended after allegations of manipulating the system to introduce ghost workers – individuals who are on the department's payroll without performing any duties for the department.

While the suspension of these individuals is a positive step towards rooting out corruption, Mvambi says a case was referred to the Hawks on Wednesday 21 February 2024. This after stating that more suspensions are looming as they are continuing with investigations. 

The four workers were suspended between the period of 5 to 13 February 2024 for the fictitious appointments of medical interns.

The suspension of the four health workers comes after Mangaung Mayor, Gregory Nthatisi, told the media some workers also manipulated the system of the ailing metro. He said their recent investigations uncovered that the ghost workers the metro has been paying, include prisoners and people not employed by the municipality.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg