Ramaphosa calls for stronger anti-corruption measures amid Tembisa Hospital SIU revelations

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for tougher action against corruption against corruption, saying that it has corroded competitiveness.

This comes amid the Special Investigative Unit (SIU)'s Tembisa Hospital corruption report which has fingered syndicates and Gauteng Health officials as being central to the R2 billion that was looted at the hospital.

Ramaphosa indicated that the ANC is serious about fighting corruption, which he said must be acted upon to ensure the credibility of the party ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

On Monday, Ramaphosa closed the Special ANC National Executive meeting after three days of deliberations on efforts aimed at strengthening the economy, advancing transformation, and improving service delivery.

The meeting built on earlier work to refine the ANC’s Economic Action Plan and ensure practical steps to drive growth, create jobs, and build a capable, ethical state.

It also was held against the backdrop of ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula raising concerns about the party's future, including performance in the upcoming 2026 municipal elections.

"Corruption corrodes competitiveness. We therefore insist on consequence management, lifestyle audits, and enforcement of integrity standards across the public sector.  The SIU reports that are coming through are demonstrating that we are serious about fighting corruption, and they will be acted upon. The SIU has made tremendous progress in helping address the spate of corruption," Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa also indicated that the party is serious about implementing a presidency-based economic war room, which is aimed at fast-tracking economic growth, with the party targeting the elusive 3% economic expansion.

"These interventions align with and support the work underway in all spheres of government. They signal the urgency and the intent of the African National Congress as we move rapidly to address the economic emergency that we are currently facing as a country. The ANC has resolved that an economic war room should be established in the Presidency to coordinate cross-government performance," he stated.

Ramaphosa's address comes after Mbalula indicated that the party’s selection list criteria ahead of the 2026 local government elections will be made stringent to avoid deliberate infiltration of the party.

“We will ensure that candidates emerge from community consultations. These will undergo rigorous vetting and be assessed not by factional loyalties, but by their integrity, their record of service, and the ability to deliver services to the people. We are determined that every ANC councillor must be a leader of substance, rooted in their community, equipped with the skills to drive development and committed to running clean, accountable local government,” Mbalula had said.

Ramaphosa further revealed that the country's high unemployment rate and poverty is not sustainable stating: "The intractable levels of poverty and unemployment and the high cost of living on the daily lives of South Africans is unacceptable. The persistence of low growth of the economy, severe unemployment and the global trade instability requires that we should take action," he said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za