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Message: [QUOTE="Queen, post: 87653, member: 27"] Over R1 million from a global disease-fighting fund was allegedly got funneled into silencing a whistleblower instead of training health workers. Three top health officials nabbed [LIST] [*]Dr Sandile Buthelezi, the National Department of Health's director-general, was arrested alongside two senior colleagues. [*]CFO Phineas Phaswa Mamogale and acting deputy DG Dr Malixole Percival Mahlathi face the same charges. [*]All three appeared in Pretoria's Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday. [*]Bail landed at R10,000 each, with a return date of 3 June. [/LIST] What the money was supposed to fund [LIST] [*]Global Fund cash targets HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs across South Africa. [*]Earmarked purposes included staff training and post-COVID psychosocial support. [*]Instead, funds allegedly bankrolled a disciplinary hearing against a suspended whistleblower. [*]That whistleblower had flagged a separate R1.2 billion fraud in North West's health department. [/LIST] How the scheme allegedly worked [LIST] [*]Two service providers got contracts without normal tender processes in 2023. [*]One of those companies was literally eight days old when it scored the deal. [*]Buthelezi faces an additional Public Finance Management Act charge for bypassing spending rules. [*]Investigations kicked off in April 2024 after the irregularities surfaced. [/LIST] Fallout for the health sector [LIST] [*]Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the legal process must run its course. [*]All three officials are barred from their offices while proceedings continue. [*]Rural clinics and underserved communities absorb the hardest hit when donor funds get diverted. [*]Buthelezi was previously linked to the Digital Vibes scandal but got cleared on that one. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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