Three senior officials within South Africa’s national Health Department have been arrested and charged with fraud and theft in connection with funds allocated by the Global Fund, an international financing organisation supporting the fight against infectious diseases.
The accused include Director-General Sandile Buthelezi, an acting deputy director-general and the department’s chief financial officer. Their arrests were confirmed by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The trio appeared before Pretoria’s Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, where they were each granted bail of R10,000. They are scheduled to return to court on 3 June.
According to the NPA, the charges involve two counts of fraud and theft totalling more than R1 million. Prosecutors allege that the funds were used to appoint service providers irregularly to investigate and chair a disciplinary hearing concerning a suspended departmental official.
Funds intended for disease response under scrutiny
The money in question was reportedly drawn from grants provided by the Switzerland-based Global Fund, which invests approximately $5 billion annually in programmes aimed at combating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. The organisation is financed primarily by contributions from wealthier governments, alongside private donors.
Authorities allege that funds earmarked for training initiatives and outbreak response were instead used to pay the appointed service providers. Details of the procurement processes and internal approvals are expected to form part of the court proceedings.
The Health Ministry said in a brief statement that Minister Aaron Motsoaledi had not yet been fully briefed on the circumstances surrounding the arrests. The ministry added that due legal process should be allowed to unfold.
The case emerges amid ongoing efforts by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration to strengthen governance and address corruption within state institutions. Since assuming office in 2018, Ramaphosa has repeatedly pledged to restore public confidence in government structures following years of allegations of systemic graft.
In a recent statement unrelated to the specific charges but issued in the context of broader law enforcement initiatives, the government reiterated that organised crime and entrenched corruption pose significant risks to democratic institutions and economic stability.
While the Global Fund had not issued an immediate public response at the time of reporting, cases involving donor-funded programmes often attract close international attention, particularly where public health systems are involved. South Africa remains one of the largest recipients of Global Fund support due to the scale of its HIV and tuberculosis epidemics.
Legal analysts note that the matter will likely focus on procurement compliance, governance controls and whether the appointments constituted criminal misconduct under public finance legislation. The outcome may have implications not only for the individuals involved but also for oversight mechanisms governing externally funded health programmes.
The accused remain out on bail pending their next court appearance. The proceedings are expected to clarify the sequence of decisions that led to the disputed payments and whether any additional parties may face investigation.
