The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the seizure of luxury vehicles and other assets from businessman Hangwani Maumela, one of the central figures in the R2-billion Tembisa Hospital corruption case, and the party is calling for urgency relating to arrests and convictions by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided Maumela’s home in Sandton in connection with corruption at Tembisa Hospital.

In its interim report last month, the SIU revealed that syndicates, including the Maumela Syndicate, linked to Maumela, who is the nephew of President Cyril Ramaphosa, through a previous marriage, were responsible for looting over R2-billion from hospital coffers.

DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Dr Jack Bloom said while the SIU deserved credit for the progress made, its findings were only an interim report.

“The final report will only be completed next year, and we know from experience that the NPA is far too slow when it comes to acting on such findings. The NPA must move faster. The evidence is already clear. It’s time for prosecutions,” he stated.

He said while asset seizures were a “good and necessary” step by the SIU, it could not stop here.

“South Africans want to see arrests, charges, and convictions. We need the masterminds of this looting in court, not just their cars being loaded onto trucks.

“We cannot afford another Life Esidimeni situation, where nine years later not a single person has been charged. The same culture of delay and impunity must not take hold here. The theft at Tembisa Hospital cost lives and crippled basic healthcare. Those responsible must be held to account,” he said.

Bloom said the next step must ensure stolen funds were recovered and returned to the Gauteng Health Department.

The party vowed to keep pressure on the case until justice was done for Babita Deokaran, the whistleblower who was murdered after reporting corruption at the Gauteng Department of Health.