The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze approximately R2 million from the pension fund of former Health Assistant Director Tshegofatso Daniel Moralo. Moralo was employed at the Mpumalanga Department of Health as assistant director and the manager of Pharmaceutical Services.

Spokesperson for the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Kaizer Kganyago said they have obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze Moralo's pension fund benefits. Kganyago said that the Mpumalanga health department and Government Employees Pension Fund are interdicted from paying pension benefits to Moralo, pending the finalisation of civil action instituted by the SIU against companies that benefited from contracts Moralo allegedly irregularly awarded. "The freezing of Moralo's pension benefits is part of the implementation of SIU's investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses due to corruption or negligence. The SIU applauds the Mpumalanga Health Department for acting on the SIU's disciplinary referral against Moralo. We urge other state institutions to also act on disciplinary referrals," he said.

It's also alleged that Moralo resigned in the middle of SIU's initiated disciplinary process to avoid accountability. Kganyago said that an SIU investigation has revealed that Moralo allegedly had a hand in the irregular awarding of seven contracts amounting to R 19 495 102.50 for procurement of goods and services from various service providers during the Covid-19 state of emergency. "The SIU probe in the affairs of the Mpumalanga Health Department also revealed that Moralo willfully, grossly and negligently failed to ensure compliance by the Department with all the prescripts regulating public sector procurement and failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that the department does not incur irregular expenditure," he said. Kganyago added that the SIU is pursuing civil action to review and set aside the contracts and to recover financial losses suffered by the state. 

Kganyago said that the SIU was directed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration, malpractice, and payments made by state institutions relating to PPE procurement and the conduct of State employees. "The SIU is empowered to institute civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during both investigations caused by acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration. In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action," he said.