GAUTENG. – Stefan Joel Govindraju (37) made his first appearance on Monday in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge in connection with the alleged R635 million Tembisa hospital case. He was released on bail of R200 000 subject to conditions.
Kaizer Kganyago, NPA spokesperson, says Govindraju faces 70 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering and corruption-related offences. The state alleges that between January 2020 and April 2023, Govindraju was the ultimate owner of various companies that obtained procurement contracts from Tembisa Hospital and the Gauteng Department of Health. The state alleges that he used various companies to create the impression that contracts were awarded through a fair and competitive process, when the state contends this was not the case. The state also alleges that fraudulent and non-compliant documents were submitted together with quotations, and that certain entities received payments for goods and services that allegedly were not lawfully supplied or delivered.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged conduct prejudiced the Gauteng Department of Health, Tembisa Hospital, the National Treasury and ultimately South African taxpayers by more than R583 million. The state further alleges that Govindraju paid more than R41 million to former Tembisa Hospital officials in exchange for their interference in procurement and supply chain management processes.
During the bail hearing, the court found that Govindraju bore the onus of showing that the interests of justice permit his release on bail. The court thereupon granted him R200 000 bail, subject to conditions. The matter has been postponed for plea and sentencing proceedings until 29 September.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
