Thandi Modise, Defence minister has confirmed an investigation is ongoing after a service provider overcharged the department by millions of rands by inflating invoices. Thandi had said that the recent discoveries have shown that the department was billed R15m instead of R3m by the company which is by R12m increase.

The services of the company have been suspended.

DA MP Kobus Marais had asked questions about the company, Maponya 911 Ambulance Service, of overcharging the department and other alleged incidents of wrongdoing in transporting patients from one military base to 1 Military Hospital in Tshwane and from Johannesburg to 1 Military hospital.

Modise said she has not yet been informed of this, but the surgeon-general and chief of the SANDF have been made aware of this.

“No, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is not yet informed. However, yes, the Chief of the SANDF and the Surgeon-General of the SAMHS (South African Military Health Service) have been informed of the specific service provider. A preliminary investigation is underway and the investigating team could at this stage trace invoices to the total amount of R15 640 487.95 paid to Maponya 911 service. The actual amount was supposed to be R3 439 084.75 as per findings, which has a difference of R12 201 403.20 as over-billing. The services have since been suspended with effect from March 2021. These amounts can only be finalised pending further investigations,” said Modise.