MBABANE:Sincendile Dlamini,the suspended Chief Procurement Officer in the Ministry of Health who is implicated in the widely reported multimillion drugs shortage scandal,allegedly purchased a 911 Porsche car worth R2million for her husband Thembela Magwaza.
A Porsche 911 is a two-door 2+2 high performance rear-engined sports car, it has a rear-mounted flat-six engine and originally a torsion bar suspension.
It has been disclosed that,the vehicle registered TSD 949 DM was purchased with monies allegedly ‘laundered’ from public coffers through suppliers, amid bribery allegations.
Information sourced by this investigative journalist from the State police vehicle registration system suggests that,the vehicle is owned by Sincendile Dlamini and Thembela Magwaza’s alleged ‘company’ Isley Investments(Pty)Ltd,registration details in the police traffic computer system link Magwaza with the company.
But it appeared that,the company was registered with alleged corrupt motives and/or to be used as a conduit to receive alleged bribes from the Ministry of Health suppliers and/or to justify lavish lifestyle of Dlamini and her husband,Sincendile Dlamini who earns only twenty-six thousand Rands(R26,000.00) after deductions,also owns a BMW X3 Competition worth over R3million.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News further uncovered that,on or around 2nd September 2020,the vehicle was registered and/or activated in the State police vehicle registration system with certificate number 2/0015713/2020.
The purchase came after Sincendile Dlamini, the Chief Procurement Officer in the Ministry of Health colluded with Fortunate Bhembe, the Deputy Director Pharmaceuticals to release about R200million Antiretrovirals(ARVs)advance payment to AvaPharm(Pty) Ltd,a company owned by SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff.
Reached for comments by this publication earlier, Khanya Mabuza, the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health confirmed knowledge of the about R200million transaction adding that, the questionable payment was a subject of an investigation.
An advance payment is the type of payment that is made to a supply for undelivered or before the delivery of goods or services.
“I can confirm knowledge of the said transaction and we are trying to investigate the circumstances surrounding this payment,” said the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Health.
Kareem Ashraff, the AvaPharm Director who is implicated in the disappearance of over R500million in the Ministry of Health told this publication that, he will respond after the court cases, Ashraff is challenging or demanding the release of the Forensic investigation report subsequent to an investigation into the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
A questionnaire was sent to both Sincendile Dlamini,the Chief Procurement Officer in the Ministry of Health and Deputy Pharmaceuticals Forunate Bhembe, however,both of them had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Monday, Thembela Magwaza,the husband to the suspended Chief Procurement Officer denied that,the R2million Porsche car was purchased with public funds but,when asked to clarify how he purchased it,he failed to answer.
“So you are implying that the car was purchased with the Ministry of Health funds?.Just accept that,there are emaSwati who work hard,wadvumiseleni nje kuphela,” said the husband to the Chief Procurement Officer.
Eswatini is facing a health crisis amid looting that resulted to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals,hundreds have died since the crisis triggered by fraud and corruption erupted.
But Mduduzi Matsebula,the newly appointed Minister of Health when responding to this Swaziland News on Saturday evening, pledged to support all legitimate initiatives aimed at solving the health crisis.
“I will support all legitimate initiatives aimed at solving the current health crisis,” said the Health Minister.
The 911 Porsche allegedly owned by Sincedile Dlamini’s husband.