The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has confirmed the closure of tuckshops owned by Pakistan nationals in various provincial hospitals as of 4 March 2025.
This action follows an order from MEC for Public Works, Marthinus Meyer responded to concerns regarding the legality of these operations. The first confirmed closure occurred at St Benedictine Hospital in Nongoma, with additional closures anticipated at Madadeni and Newcastle hospitals.
An official investigation found that a Pakistan national had been running the tuckshop at St Benedictine Hospital for eight years without a formal agreement, prompting immediate action from the authorities.
As a result, the MEC directed the removal of all unauthorized tuckshop operators from hospital grounds.
The issue was brought to light during an oversight visit to St Benedictine Hospital by ActionSA’s KwaZulu-Natal chairperson, Zwakele Mncwango. He revealed irregularities in the tuckshop’s operation, raising serious concerns about accountability and proper tender processes within provincial hospitals.
Upon discovering these issues, ActionSA contacted the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to demand immediate intervention. The investigation confirmed that the tuckshop was operating without authorization, leading to questions about how it was allowed to function in a government hospital for nearly a decade.
Following these findings, MEC Meyer acted promptly, directing the closure of all unauthorized tuckshops in KZN hospitals. The department has initiated an internal review to uncover any additional irregularities in the management of hospital facilities throughout the province.
In response to the closure, Zwakele Mncwango expressed approval of the decision and emphasized the need for governance and accountability in public health institutions.
Following our visit to St Benedictine Hospital, we discovered that a Pakistani national had been operating the hospital’s tuck shop for 8 years without a formal agreement. This lack of oversight is unacceptable, and we commend the MEC for Public Works, Meyer, for ordering the closure of these establishments.
He also stressed the necessity for greater transparency in managing public hospital facilities, stating:
We cannot allow our public facilities to be managed without proper agreement and oversight. This situation highlights the urgent need for transparency in the awarding of operational contracts within our hospitals.
Mncwango reiterated that hospital resources should benefit South Africans and called for heightened standards in managing operational contracts and facilities within public institutions.
With the closures now in effect, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure plans to conduct further inspections of KwaZulu-Natal hospitals to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards for tuckshops and similar establishments.
Moreover, discussions are ongoing regarding the future management of hospital tuckshops, with proposals to favor local businesses and enforce stricter guidelines for contract awards.
ActionSA has pledged to monitor the situation and urged the provincial government to take decisive action against any additional irregularities in hospital operations.
As investigations proceed, more closures may follow in other hospitals where unauthorized tuckshop operations are found. The Department of Public Works has encouraged whistleblowers and concerned citizens to report any anomalies in public facilities.
This prompt response to the issue has sparked wider discussions about governance and accountability in public health institutions, with political and civil society groups advocating for more stringent oversight in the management of hospital contracts and tenders.
