Tembisa Hospital CEO,Dr Ashley Mthunzi, who was suspended two years ago over allegations of improper procurement and payment of service providers at the hospital has passed away. The news of his passing was announced by his wife, Lerato Mthunzi, on social media this morning.
CONDOLENCES
In the post, Lerato wrote: " In loving memory. It is a great sadness to announce the passing of Dr Ashley Mthunzi. Born on 2 June 1978 and died on 23 April 2023.' He reportedly died in hospital on Tuesday morning after a short illness. The Gauteng Department of Health also acknowledged his passing. "The Department has extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Dr Mthunzi as they navigate through this period of mourning,' the department said in a statement.
SUSPENSION
Before his suspension, it was alleged that he approved the purchase of skinny jeans worth R500 000 with taxpayers' money at the hospital but he flatly denied that there were any jeans ordered. He was suspended alongside the hospital's chief financial officer, Lerato Madyo, in August 2022 ,a year after whistleblower Babita Deokaran was gunned down outside her house.
The two were suspended following recommendations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), after it found information that slain Department of Health senior accountant Deokaran had flagged payments to top ANC official in Ekurhuleni were possibly fraudulent. It is alleged that Madyo and Mthunzi ignored the warnings. According to Mthunzi at the time, during the procurement process, the wrong code was placed when ordering medical equipment. Mthunzi previously said he was not aware of Deokaran's findings concerning Tembisa Hospital and therefore should not be linked to her death. "I did not receive any communication from Babita indicating what we know now. I was not even aware that payments from companies were stopped because I do not mingle with suppliers. I always discourage mingling with suppliers. I always do clean business and supply chain, so the inference that her murder is associated with Tembisa is outrageous and baseless," Mthunzi said.
DEATH CERTIFICATE
Mthunzi passed away the same say as fraud-accused former Tshwane mayor, Dr Murunwa Makwarela, who was facing charges of fraud relating to his insolvency status. He had applied to have his matter struck off the court roll, but his attempts were in vain. NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said once they receive Mukwarela's death certificate, his fraud case will be scraped off. "Once the state is furnished with the death certificate, the case against the former Tshwane mayor, Dr Makwarela, will be withdrawn from the roll when it appears on 31 July 2024."
