Brian Hlongwa, the former MEC for health in Gauteng appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court this week
His wife Joeline Davids-Hlongwa, four former health officials and two businessmen were also in court.
Hlongwa’s co-accused also include 3P Consulting, Ukwakwa Design, Midnight Masquerade Properties, Golden Pond Trading, Brisigo Properties, Regiments Healthcare and Ergold Properties.
Hlongwa and his co-accused face more than 250 counts, including racketeering, fraud, corruption, benefitting from the proceeds of crime and money laundering.
They were granted bail of between R20 000 and R50 000.
Jack Bloom, the DA’s shadow health MEC, has called for Hlongwa to be held accountable, for years. Bloom was suspended for five days in 2009 from the Gauteng legislature after refusing to apologise for accusing him of corruption.
Bloom said Hlongwa’s appearance in the dock was ‘long overdue’.
‘I suspect the delay was due to political protection. I hope … finally justice is seen to be done with jail sentences for all those found guilty of corruption.
‘Hlongwa’s legacy is a department that has never recovered from the looting and lack of controls while he was health MEC. A strong signal needs to be sent that crooked people will not get away with stealing public money.’
The case relates to allegations 3P Consulting, owned by Hlongwa’s associate Richard Payne, and various linked entities were awarded R1.2 billion worth of government contracts in exchange for kickbacks.
They were awarded tenders to compile the department’s 2007-8 budget and develop a turnaround strategy. 3P Consulting then obtained a tender for the establishment of a project management unit.
The contract was awarded for R68 million a year for two years, but the department paid more than R340 million.