Health department employees accused of faking qualifications granted bail

Six Eastern Cape health officials who were arrested on suspicion of faking the qualifications that earned them their positions eight years ago have been released on bail.

Palesa Patient Molekane, 46, an ambulance practitioner in Maletswai (formerly Aliwal North); Nonceba Maggie Mpelwane, 54, a controller in Maletswai; Ntombizodwa Precious Sibidla, 43, basic life support assistant at Burgersdorp; Lebuhang Eunice Raisa-busakwe, 47, a controller in Maletswai; Sicelo Michael Sonjica, 49, a former emergency officer in Bizana; and Sempe Johannes Mohare, 42, an emergency care ambulance assistance practitioner, were released on R5,000 bail each.

The accused, some still dressed in their work uniforms, appeared at the Zwelitsha magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

They face charges of fraud, forgery and uttering.

They were arrested on Monday, some at their work stations, by the East London-based serious corruption investigation unit of the Hawks

The state, represented by advocate Siphamandla Ngxokolo, initially requested their bail be set at R10,000.

Ngxokolo said this was because their charges fell under the ambit of a schedule 5 offence with an amount in question exceeding R500,000.

He said the state was not opposed to their release on bail.

Advocate Glad Mhlaba, acting on behalf of all the accused, said his clients could afford R5,000 bail.

The parties agreed to that. Hawks spokesperson W/O Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said that on December 10 2014, the health department had advertised 730 positions for emergency medical care services officers in all eight districts of the Eastern Cape.

The requirements for the positions included a matric certificate or equivalent.

“The six officials applied, were shortlisted, interviewed and employed.

“They started in their positions on April 8 2015.

“On March 24 2022, the officials were requested to submit their original certificates and the officials allegedly failed to [do so].

“The department embarked on verification of qualification [and] their grade 12 certificates were declared fraudulent and the matter was referred to the Hawks for investigation.”

Mhlakuvana said the investigation had further revealed that the department had been prejudiced by more than R7.9m.

The accused will be back in the dock in the East London regional court on September 11 after their case was postponed for trial arrangement.