TimesLIVE reports that Thabo Lekalakala, the suspended head of the North West health department, appeared in the Molopo Magistrate’s court on Friday in connection with the fraudulent appointment of Gupta-linked company Mediosa.  

Lekalakala’s appearance followed his arrest on Friday morning by the Hawks.  He was arrested for fraud, corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.  “The arrest stems from an investigation into the alleged fraudulent appointment of Cureva, which was later known as Mediosa, as a service provider of mobile clinics to service rural areas in the province,” Hawks spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi indicated.  Allegedly, Mediosa was appointed by Lekalakala without following proper tender procedures.  “Instead, he allegedly signed a service level agreement while on a trip in India.  It transpired that a family member and friends allegedly accompanied him on the trip funded by Mediosa,” Mulaudzi said.  In addition, the service provider was allegedly paid an upfront amount of R30m soon after signing the service agreement.  Lekalakala was released on R5,000 bail and the matter was postponed until 12 February next year.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE

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