Three South African government officials, including Health Department Director-General Sandile Buthelezi, were arrested and charged with fraud and theft of money allocated to the country by the Global Fund, one of the world\u2019s largest infectious-disease charities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buthelezi was arrested along with an acting deputy director-general at the department and its chief financial officer, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, and the National Prosecuting Authority said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were granted bail of R10,000 each after appearing in Pretoria\u2019s Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and will return on 3 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe minister is still in the dark about the circumstances surrounding the arrest,\u201d the health ministry said, referring to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. \u201cThe law must take its course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NPA said the three face two counts of theft and fraud totalling more than R1 million linked to the irregular appointment of companies to investigate and chair a disciplinary hearing for a suspended official. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both service providers were paid with Global Fund money intended to support training and outbreak response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in power since 2018, has pledged to crack down on corruption that has hollowed out state institutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last month, he underscored the need to intensify efforts against organised crime and systemic graft after \u201cidentifying these as critical threats to democracy and economic stability,\u201d the government said in a separate statement related to the arrests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Switzerland-based Global Fund raises and invests about $5 billion a year to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and is funded mainly by governments of wealthy nations, with some private contributions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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