Three Free State health officials were allegedly caught with over 10 000 ARV tablets that were presumably intended for illegal sales. The bust took place in Virginia on Wednesday.
Free State MEC for Health, Montseng Tsiu, expressed concern that trusted officials from the department are alleged to have exploited much needed resources in this manner.
“It is unacceptable that the people who are entrusted with provision of care, at any level, become the ones that scheme and plot to steal and defraud sick and vulnerable people of the much needed lifesaving drugs,” she said.
“I trust that the law enforcement agencies will secure all the necessary evidence and present a solid case for a long term incarceration of the alleged offenders,” added Tsiu.
Two other health officials and a clinic committee member from Khothalang Clinic in Virginia were arrested at the Meloding Police Station on Tuesday afternoon. They were allegedly caught with 4460 tablets of Tribuss and 5964 tablets of Atroizea from the clinic.
According to the health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, the medication was intended to be sold in the Northern Cape. “The tablets were allegedly stolen and handed over to “local contacts” who were to allegedly transport them to Kimberley for sale. No further details have been shared in this regard whilst the officials languish in police cells,” he explained. –
Nomaqhawe Mtebele
