“Everyone Else Will Be Arrested Except For Some Chosen Ones” – Tony Yengeni

Despite being named in the huge Tembisa Hospital corruption investigation, MK Party Deputy President Tony Yengeni has rekindled public debate by asking why Hangwani Maumela—allegedly President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nephew has not been jailed. Concerned about what he saw as unfair justice enforcement, especially with regard to those with political ties, Yengeni posted on X. With a few notable exceptions, everyone else gets arrested. “This is what they call ‘The New Dawn’,” he wrote, seemingly criticising Ramaphosa’s highly publicised anti-corruption initiatives.

His comments come after a slew of prominent individuals were taken into custody in connection with significant corruption probes; these include Julius Mkhwanazi, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, the National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, and other high-ranking law enforcement officers. Despite this, Maumela, who is suspected of stealing over R2 billion from Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital’s healthcare fund, has not been indicted.

In response to a question put forward by EFF lawmaker Rebecca Mohlala, the matter was recently discussed by Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi in Parliament. She verified that, although Maumela has been located, prosecutors are currently gathering evidence to meet the necessary legal requirements for a prosecution.

In September 2025, Maumela was designated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) following the discovery of extensive procurement irregularities at the hospital. Out of 1,728 procurement packages, 924 displayed indications of abnormalities, with a total value of R816 million. The 41 service providers linked to Maumela were also discovered by the investigators. Matlala is currently facing multiple criminal allegations, including attempted murder, and has been associated with questionable government contracts on multiple occasions; at the same time, three companies connected to him obtained contracts totalling R13 million.

One of the most high-profile corruption cases in South Africa, the Tembisa scandal has brought to light the possible theft of vital health funds at a time when state hospitals were already struggling to function. The public is increasingly sceptical about the fairness of accountability in light of Yengeni’s involvement, which has heightened scrutiny. They wonder if powerful people may still evade legal consequences.