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Health officials' bail extended in Global Fund fraud case

Published

Suspended Director-General Sandile Buthelezi, Percival Mahlati and Chief Financial Officer Phineas Mamogale appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday. The case, which involves more than R1 million, was postponed to 22 January 2027.

The postponement allows representations to be made to the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions. Each of the three officials faces two counts of fraud and a charge of theft. Buthelezi also faces a charge under the Public Finance Management Act.

The State alleges the payments came from money of the Global Fund, which supports the department's training and outbreak response programmes. It says the allegations relate to the appointment of two service providers in 2023 to handle an internal disciplinary process.

A co-accused, Nokuzola Mavis Mafunda, faces a fraud charge involving more than R940,000.

Key facts

Who
Sandile Buthelezi (Suspended Director-General of the Department of Health, accused); Percival Mahlati (Department of Health official, accused); Phineas Mamogale (Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Health, accused); Nokuzola Mavis Mafunda (co-accused, faces a fraud charge involving more than R940,000)
What
Suspended Director-General Sandile Buthelezi, Percival Mahlati and Chief Financial Officer Phineas Mamogale had their bail extended at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday. The case was postponed to January for representations to be made to the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
When
6 November 2026
Where
Pretoria
Status
Reported

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