Parliament of the Republic of South Africa

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SCOPA CALLS FOR STATE TO DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH SYSTEMATIC FAILURES

To download the soundbite of the Chairperson of SCOPA, Mr Songezo Zibi click here: https://iono.fm/e/1477470

Parliament, Wednesday, 4 September 2024 – The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) calls for strong systems and internal controls to be established in the departments of Health and Justice to protect the state, particularly state healthcare centres and vulnerable patients, against the actions of fraudulent law firms. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) informed SCOPA that it has prevented a potential loss to the state of R3 billion in fraudulent medico-legal claims.

The committee today received a briefing from the SIU on the medico-legal investigations it is undertaking in the provincial departments of health in all nine provinces. The SIU told the committee that the claims under investigation include the targeting of families with children born with cerebral palsy, false claims of medical malpractice in state hospitals and collusion between state healthcare workers and rogue lawyers to unlawfully secure private medical records in order to initiate claims against the government. In some cases, agents of rogue law firms impersonate officials of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to secure power of attorney on behalf of victims while claiming to be securing them social grants.

“Clearly systemic interventions are necessary to reduce the likelihood of fraudulent claims being initiated, to begin with, or to be successful. There are instances where the plaintiff has passed on, and yet a claim proceeds on the basis of loss of future income. In other cases, the same claim is simultaneously lodged in two different divisions of the High Court without anyone noticing. A due diligence checklist in the Department of Health and the Office of the State Attorney may eliminate some of these claims early, reducing legal costs and contingent liabilities,” said SCOPA chair, Songezo Zibi.

The SIU also briefed the committee about several issues that cut across all provinces. These include the embezzlement of payouts and or trust funds; lack of electronic case-line systems; lack of capacity at the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund to investigate matters speedily and re-imburse claimants. Many deserving claimants continue to live in poverty.

SCOPA noted that there are many valid claims, and these must be processed properly, but the fraudulent nature of most of them is evidenced by the drastic reduction in the number of claims since the SIU began its investigation.

The committee commends the SIU’s sterling work in persistently pursuing these medico-legal cases and the culprits involved. The committee also asked the SIU to provide further information on the individuals involved in these cases.

The committee is scheduled to hold a joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Health and the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the medico-legal claims and investigations on 11 September 2024 with the Department of Health.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF SCOPA, MR SONGEZO ZIBI.

Catch the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on COGTA, Dr Zweli Mkhize live on tomorrow at 21:40.

The Chairperson of will be live on the Breakfast Show this morning at 07:50.

The Minister of Police, Mr today delivered a statement during the National Assembly sitting on the plans to deal with high levels of extortion in the country. The statement comes in response to an increase in reports of extortion in various business industries across the country, resulting in some businesses ceasing their operations.
📸 ©️Phando Jikelo / Parliament of South Africa

will tomorrow be briefed by the Special Investigating Unit on the Medico-legal claims and their impact on the financial health of the sector. The committee will also be briefed by the Auditor-General on Transnet’s financial performance, for the 2023/24 financial year.

The Powers and Privileges Committee today elected Ms Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe as the Chairperson of the committee.

In accordance with Rule 212 of the National Assembly, the committee is composed of 9 members. The African National Congress is represented in the committee by Ms Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe, Mr Gijimani Skosana, Mr Mikateko Mahlaule and Ms Nonceba Gcaleka-Mazibuko. The Democratic Alliance is represented by Mr George Michalakis and Mr Baxolile Nodada. The uMkhonto WeSizwe Party is represented by Dr Mandlakayise Hlophe, Mr Nhlamulo Ndlela and the Economic Freedom Fighters is represented by Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi with Ms Poppy Mailola as an alternate member.

Catch the Chairperson of on today at 12:20pm.

Parliament congratulates Louzanne Coetzee for winning a bronze medal for South Africa in the T11 1500m final at the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games. 📸©️Gallo

Parliament congratulates Mpumelelo Mhlongo for winning a gold medal for South Africa in the Men’s 100m T44 final at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. 📸©️Gallo

Parliament congratulates the South Africa’s Men’s 4 x 400m relay team Bryan Katoo, Sihle Mahlangu, Njabulo Mbatha, and Udeme Okon for winning a silver medal at the U20 World Championships.
📸 ©️Athletics SA FB

Parliament congratulates JL van Rensburg for winning a silver medal for South Africa in the men’s shot put at the U20 World Championships.
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Parliament congratulates Bradley Nkoana for winning a bronze medal for South Africa in the men’s 100m final at the U20 World Championships.
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Parliament congratulates Udeme Okon for winning a gold medal for South Africa in the men’s 400m at the U20 World Championships.
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SPORTS COMMITTEE WISHES BOKS WELL, AND NOTES WITH APPRECIATION RUGBY’S CONTRIBUTION TO SOUTH AFRICAN LIFE

Parliament, Friday, 30 August 2024 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Joe McGluwa, has wished the Springboks well in the two-test Rugby Championship series against New Zealand, to be held in Johannesburg tomorrow and in Cape Town next week.

This comes after a remodelled Rugby Championship this year was approved for South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby (SANZAAR, previously known as SANZAR) where unions agreed to shift from a home-and-away model and opted for a traditional test-series approach.

Mr McGluwa also welcomed the Department of Transport’s move to enhance transport to and from games with additional new trains.

Mr McGluwa said hosting a Springboks–All Blacks test is a big occasion in the world rugby calendar. “For many, this will feel like a repeat of the World Cup final in France that South Africa won 12–11. This is huge and a massive revisit of the final. New Zealand has always been a great opponent for South Africa, and we can only marvel at the heritage and the history.”

“On behalf of the committee, we wish the Springboks well and hope that they win this test series. Success on the rugby field has always unified South Africans and wins against the All Blacks have that special feeling,” Mr McGluwa added.

The committee also sent its good wishes to the South African Paralympics team and to the Athletics Under20s currently participating in World Under20 Championship in Lima, Peru.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR JOE MCGLUWA.

Parliament congratulates Bayanda Walaza for winning a gold medal for South Africa in the men’s 100m final at the U20 World Championships.