By Doreen Mokgolo
Since 2019, the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness has spent more than R13-million on nine suspended staff members who still received their monthly salaries.
This information was shared in a report by MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to Jack Bloom, the DA’s shadow MEC for Health.
One of the suspended workers, Advocate Mpelegeng Lebeloane – the director of legal services in the health department – was paid a salary of R4.7-million between 2019 and her retirement in July last year.
The department has also spent more than R6-million on the combined salaries of three senior staff members who were suspended on 26 January 2022 for suspected financial misconduct related to the refurbishment of the Anglo Ashanti Hospital.
One of them has since retired.
Two other officials, suspended since July 2022, are still being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit and haven’t yet faced charges.
In 2023, three more staff members were suspended: an admin clerk involved in selling jobs, a medical officer accused of sexual assault, and another admin and logistics clerk facing assault charges.
They are all still receiving their monthly salaries.
Bloom criticised the department for moving slowly on these cases, blaming delayed investigations and postponed hearings.
He also called on the premier, Panyaza Lesufi, to remove Lesiba Malotana, the department’s head, for poor management.
Bloom said: “The slow handling of these cases affects how the department operates and leads to poor service delivery. The suspension period shouldn’t be more than 60 days.”
The department’s acting chief director of communication, Khutso Rabothata, said that investigations are almost finished, and the department is working to speed up the process with the help of labour experts.
Pictured above: MEC of Health and Wellness Nomatu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
Source: Supplied
