Cape Town — The Gauteng Health Department faces backlash for spending more than R13 million on suspended staff in the past few years.
In a statement, the Democratic Alliance (DA) revealed that nine staff members have been suspended with full pay in the past few years, which was revealed by Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The DA revealed that Mpelegeng Lebeloane received R4.7 million while sitting at home between 2019 and 2023, while three senior staff have been suspended since 26 January 2022 for alleged misconduct at the Anglo Ashanti Hospital.
They received more than R6 million in salaries in what the party said was an “inexcusably long-running matter,”.
The DA’s Jack Bloom said two more officials have been suspended since July 2022, and are under investigation by the SIU, while three officials were suspended this year for various scandals.
According to IOL, Nkomo-Ralehoko responded and said that some staff were suspected of financial misconduct, job-selling scams and assault, among others.
The department blamed the delay on “prolonged investigations and repeated postponements of hearings.”
ALSO READ | Rising food poisoning cases in Gauteng sparks health concerns
“This pathetic handling is one of many management failures which justify the DA’s call for Premier Lesufi to remove Department Head, Lesiba Malotana,” Bloom said.
“The DA stands firmly against prolonged disciplinary processes as they affect the effective running of departments, leading to poor service delivery to citizens. We propose that the suspension period should not exceed 60 days,” Bloom concluded.
As reported by News24, the DA has launched a petition to remove Malotana from his position. The party believes that Malotana is involved in a corruption scandal and ongoing mismanagement in the provincial health system.
Earlier this week, the petition garnered more than 2 800 signatures already and the DA said it showed the “shocking hospital failures” and corruption in the department
Malotana allegedly accepted an R8 million bribe, which he is under investigation for. His appointment as head of the department is also under scrutiny.
Jan de Villiers, chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee on public service and administration, has requested an investigation by the Public Service Commission into Malotana’s appointment, citing possible irregularities in the hiring process.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@GautengHealth
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
