Two suspects, including a police official attached to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and a Tembisa Hospital official, are expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 24 November 2025, facing charges of corruption. The arrests follow a sting operation carried out by the DPCI’s Serious Corruption Investigation unit on Sunday.
The suspects were arrested after a planned handover of R100 000 cash as gratification. According to authorities, the 53-year-old Tembisa Hospital official approached a 41-year-old DPCI sergeant for assistance in an ongoing investigation linked to the hospital. The hospital official allegedly offered the money in an attempt to avoid prosecution. The DPCI officer involved refused the offer and reported the matter, prompting an operation authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions that led to the arrest of both individuals.
Lieutenant General Siphosihle Nkosi, Acting National Head of the DPCI, said the arrests demonstrate the unit’s commitment to rooting out corruption within its own ranks. “We assure the public that investigations relating to corruption at Tembisa Hospital will continue without deterrence. Those within the DPCI who involve themselves in criminal activities will be rooted out of the organisation,” Nkosi said.
The arrests come amid broader scrutiny of Tembisa following looting incidents in September 2025. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) conducted investigations into allegations of collusion between officials and criminal syndicates during the looting, which involved the targeting of warehouses, hospitals, and municipal infrastructure. Investigations identified a network of suspects, including individuals linked to prominent public figures. Reports indicated that some looters had ties to high-profile figures, including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew, Hangwani Maumela, and several other individuals now facing criminal investigations.
The Democratic Alliance has repeatedly called for those implicated in the looting to face criminal prosecution. DA shadow MEC for Health Dr Javk Bloom emphasised that all individuals involved, regardless of status or connections, must be held accountable. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has said that its investigations remain ongoing and that once all SIU investigations are complete, criminal cases will be formally handed over to police for prosecution.
The Tembisa Hospital case highlights continued concerns over corruption within public institutions and the intersections between criminal networks and state employees. The DPCI’s operation on Sunday underscores the focus on accountability, particularly where public officials are implicated.
Investigators continue to examine records and financial transactions linked to the hospital and other public entities, with authorities stressing that further arrests are possible as inquiries proceed. The DPCI and SIU have coordinated to ensure that evidence collected during investigations is preserved and will be used in potential prosecutions.
Monday’s court appearance in Pretoria is expected to mark the beginning of formal proceedings against the two suspects, with authorities indicating that the case will proceed under the oversight of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The DPCI reiterated its commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, and urged the public to report any suspected corruption involving public officials.
