During a press briefing in Pretoria over the weekend, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi disclosed that the department has been significantly impacted by billions of rands lost to these claims.

Motsoaledi urged lawyers to retract their fraudulent claims within a two-week grace period to avoid any legal repercussions.

Motsoaledi emphasised the government's intention to rectify the situation by stating, "We wish to extend an offer to those lawyers who have, knowingly, submitted fraudulent claims to step forward and withdraw these claims within the next two weeks, without facing consequences."

He further appealed to the legal community, "If you are a lawyer and have filed a claim that falls under the category of fraud, we urge you to withdraw it. We assure you, publicly, that no actions will be taken against those who comply."

This unprecedented offer aims to encourage transparency and accountability while mitigating the financial strain on the health department.

--SABC--