Staff Reporter
Bloemfontein – The Free State Department of Health has appointed Zongezile Adam Zumane, a convicted fraudster, as Chief Executive Officer of Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital in Ladybrand.
Zumane was convicted of fraud in 2012 and sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment.
When handing down judgment, Magistrate Albert Kruger said Zumane defrauded the municipality through his company, African Jazz Club.
The company did not have a bank account. Instead, payments were made into employees’ personal bank accounts, and the employees would withdraw the money and hand it over to Zumane.
At the time, Zumane was Speaker at the municipality, while Kok was his personal assistant.
“If he was doing good business with the municipality, he could have used a bank account. Prices were inflated and were high,” said the magistrate.
STEPUPSANEWS can confirm that Zumane served his sentence at Grootvlei Medium B Correctional Centre and was released after serving three years.
Despite his fraud conviction, Zumane was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital on 1 July 2025, appointing a fraudster as CEO is like appointing a rapist as a teacher at girls school.
Insiders at Bophelo House allege there was political pressure to appoint him and panel members were lobbied even before shortlisting.
Another source said his criminal record was brought to the attention of panel members during the recruitment process.
“Everyone knew he was a convict, but the argument advanced was that there is no law prohibiting him from being appointed. We were told he will not work with money. Our people are clowns,” the source said.
Another source described the appointment as reckless, saying that while there should not be discrimination, placing a convicted fraudster in charge of a hospital money raises serious governance concerns.
“It’s crazy how they went for Zumane who has no experience at the expense of Diba who has been acting since 2019.”
Under Zumane’s leadership, Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital allegedly administered two expired drips to a nine-year-old patient.
Zumane, 70 years old is not the only convicted criminal employed in Free State Provincial Goverment and the Public Service Commission which is in bed with government not do anything.
The following convicted criminals are employed by FSPG.
- Cycil Ngwenya: Legal Services at Education (fraud)
- Jack Tladi: chairperson of FSGLTA (fraud)
- Valentine Senkhane: acting Chief Director Corporate Services at DESTEA (fraud)
FSPG likes thieves and everytime you vote for ANC, you keep thieves in power.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the Free State Department of Health and Mohlophehi Nkatla, HR rep who formed part of the panel, did not respond to questions, including whether Zumane was vetted before his appointment.
Nkadimeng Makhoali who chaired the panel promised to respond today. The story will be updated once her comment comes through.
Dr Takisi Masiteng had previously warned Premier Joyce “Pretenders” Mathae about governance concerns, cautioning that such decisions could undermine oversight in the province.
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