Two years after it was completed, the outcome of an investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement against the former head of KwaZulu-Natal Health has yet to be made public.
The Citizen reports that the inquiry, headed by Professor Fikile Ndaki, was appointed by former Premier Senzo Mchunu in December 2014 following allegations of corruption and mismanagement levelled by the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) against Dr Sibongile Zungu.
Spokesperson for the Office of the KwaZulu-Natal premier, Ndabesinhle Sibiya is quoted recently as saying: “I have been informed by the Premier’s special advisor Advocate Linda Zama that there are consultations currently underway with concerned parties. Once those processes are completed, a statement on the cause of action will be issued moving forward.”
He also said that it was the intention to have the full report made public, but did not specify when this was expected. Zungu said that she had received a draft copy of the report, but had never received the full copy of the report. Phakama Ndunakazi, provincial secretary for Nehawu could not immediately reached for comment.
The report says Zungu was appointed department head in August 2009 on a five-year contract. When the contract came to an end her appointment was renewed on a monthly basis and it was almost a foregone conclusion that she would be reappointed, had it not been for the Nehawu allegations.
As a result of their complaints, Mchunu appointed the inquiry headed by Ndaki who was assisted Mimie Memka to investigate the allegations in December 2014. Zungu was appointed for a further three months pending the outcome of Ndaki’s investigation according to a provincial executive council memorandum signed by Mchunu on 2 December, 2014. However, when it emerged in March 2015 that Ndoda Biyela, the Gauteng Health Department’s suspended chief financial officer had a month earlier been appointed as CFO in KwaZulu-Natal, her contract was not renewed.
Biyela had been accused of tender irregularities related to a linen contract in Gauteng. Provincial Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo accused Zungu of illegally appointing Ndoda Biyela to be CFO without his knowledge.
The Ndaki report was completed in February 2015, the report says.
[link url="http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1450371/probe-former-kzn-health-head-yet-released/"]The Citizen report[/link]