Court Orders South African Health Minister to Act on Big Scale Corruption Case

In a groundbreaking verdict, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has directed Health Minister Joe Phaahla to act decisively on the R1.2 billion corruption scandal. The order by the court follows allegations of Phaahla's prolonged attempts to hide the extensive fraud within his ministry.

Minister Phaahla has also been mandated to pay the cost order of the application and further explain, by no later than Tuesday, the particulars of an October 2020 forensic probe. This investigation unveiled large-scale corruption by the North West health department.

The forensic report revealed that several laws were flagrantly violated when awarding security contracts to 22 companies in September 2019. These contracts intended to safeguard the province's health facilities and offices.

The Health Minister's lapse in addressing the massive fraud could spell significantly challenging times ahead for him and the North West health department. The ruling emphasizes the need for tighter control within governmental departments, highlighting the necessity of transparency and accountability.