Dr. Ashley Mthunzi, the suspended CEO of Tembisa Hospital, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy overshadowed by controversy. The Gauteng Department of Health and Mthunzi’s wife, Lerato Mthunzi, confirmed his death on Tuesday.
Lerato shared the sad news on Facebook, announcing, “In loving memory. It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Dr. Ashley Mthunzi. Born on 2 June 1978 and died on 23 April 2024.” His funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 7 am in Winchester Hills.
The Gauteng health department expressed their condolences, acknowledging the difficult time for Mthunzi’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Controversy surrounded Mthunzi due to questionable purchases made by the hospital during his tenure. These included 2,000 hand towels bought for around R230 each, 100 leather armchairs totaling R500,000, and nearly R500,000 spent on skinny jeans, a claim Mthunzi denied.
An expose by News24 in August 2022 revealed that the hospital purchased 200 pairs of skinny jeans at R2,500 per pair, among other questionable transactions. These dealings were brought to light by whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who was later assassinated.
In 2021, Deokaran flagged irregular tenders worth over R850 million at the hospital.
Mthunzi, along with CFO Lerato Madyo and nine other officials, was suspended in August 2022 following implications in the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)’s report on fraudulent suppliers irregularly appointed at the hospital, published in December 2022.
Dr. Ashley Mthunzi’s passing marks the end of a chapter riddled with controversy, leaving behind questions and unresolved issues within Tembisa Hospital.