A Senior official at the Department of Health who is believed to have authorised the purchase of appliances at inflated prices has been suspended.

Shireen Pardesi, a chief director at the department's medical bureau for occupational diseases, reportedly approved the purchase of fridges, microwave ovens and television sets at their Braamfontein, Johannesburg, office for R350000.

In September, Sowetan reported that R120000 was spent on five fridges, meaning each fridge cost R24000.

The department also forked out R65000 on five television sets - rounding off at R13000 each - while R23000 was spent on three microwaves, bringing the cost of each to almost R8000. An employee at the department confirmed Pardesi's suspension.

"We do not know for sure when she was suspended, but we believe it was on October 29," said the employee.

In the notes of a meeting held on October 30 u nder the item "Feedback on the status of Ms Pardesi", it read in part :

"Dr Barry Kistnasamy reported that Ms Pardesi has be (sic) placed on precautionary suspension by the employer ... A follow-up meeting should be scheduled for 24 November 2015 between organised labour from MBOD (medical bureau of occupational diseases), the management of MBOD, and the affected clusters within the department where further engagements around the issues raised by organised labour would be dealt with."

Health Department spokesman Joe Maila confirmed that Pardesi was suspended for the extravagant purchases.

"I can confirm that Shireen Pardesi is on precautionary suspension while the department is busy investigating the allegations," Maila said.

He said Pardesi was still innocent until the investigation proved otherwise.

"The precautionary suspension does not mean anybody is guilty, but [is] a move to allow the process of investigation to take its course," Maila said, adding that the internal investigation was continuing.

Attempts to get hold of Pardesi were unsuccessful as her phone was off.