Friday, 29 March, 2024
HomeWeekly RoundupGauteng Health appoints new CEO at Bara after protests

Gauteng Health appoints new CEO at Bara after protests

Dr Richard Lebethe has been appointed as the new acting CEO of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital following protests at the facility by health unions. Health-e News reports that the demonstrations were mostly about grievances against former acting CEO Dr Sifiso Maseko, who was removed and placed on suspension while he faces allegations of maladministration.

The Gauteng Health Department has made it clear Lebethe would take over his acting position with immediate effect. “This is to ensure there is a stability at the hospital. The process to appoint a permanent CEO is nearing its completion,” said department spokesperson Lesemang Matuka. “The allegations made are being taken seriously and to this effect, the Department instituted an independent investigation to ensure the process is fair and transparent,” said the head of the Gauteng Health, Professor Mkhululi Lukhele.

The statement further said the department was committed to engaging with all stakeholders and resolving their concerns in an amicable manner and that a final court order had been invoked to halt the ongoing disruptions to essential services to patients and allow the investigating team space to conduct its work unhindered.

The report says another big union concern was the overdue filling of critical posts. The department claimed to have made progress since January with regard to the filling of vacant positions, claiming that 505 posts at Chris Hani Academic Hospital had been filled 505 so far. These included 10 administration posts, 93 allied professionals, 297 medical positions, 93 nursing post and 12 support staff.

“We are very happy with the outcome of our strike so far. Especially the removal of the previous acting CEO. What we need to do now is to allow further due processes to unfold so that those who are implicated will have their chance to state their side of the story,” said Vusi Mashinini, labour organiser at the hospital from the Health and other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa). The report says other unions could not be reached for comment.

Allegations levelled against the previous acting CEO include interference in the appointment process to ensure certain officials are appointed, selling of jobs to those close to him, his reluctance to investigate allegations and intimidation of other senior managers.

 

Lebethe didn’t come out looking clean during the Life Esidimeni arbitration, but it seems the Gauteng Health Department still holds him in high regard, reports The Star.

During the Life Esidimeni arbitration, headed by retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, Lebethe was one of the Health Department’s top officials implicated. Giving testimony at the arbitration, SAPS Major-General Charles Johnson said their investigations were delayed due to a lack of co-operation from the department. Johnson said that when they asked for patients’ clinical records, Lebethe agreed to hand them over but later reneged and said the police should ask for them in writing.

The report says former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu also testified that Lebethe and other senior officials misled her during the mental health marathon project.

Gauteng Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesperson Jack Bloom is unhappy about Lebethe’s appointment. “Earlier this year, I asked Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa whether there would be a disciplinary process concerning his role in the Esidimeni disaster, and she said this was being assessed in the light of the testimony at the arbitration hearings chaired by Justice Moseneke. It is unfortunate that there is a cloud over Lebethe’s head as he takes over the top position at this major hospital,” Bloom is quoted in the report as saying.

[link url="https://www.health-e.org.za/2018/08/30/new-ceo-for-bara-following-protests/"]Health-e report[/link]
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/eyebrows-raised-as-embattled-official-gets-top-job-16861608"]The Star report[/link]

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