Acting Gauteng Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo has directed the province's health department to compile a full report on all long-outstanding disciplinary cases, immediately commence with hearings, and to fast track those cases already under way, reports News24.
"Disciplinary action, if left pending for a long period, has a negative impact on the department's performance and affects the confidence the people of Gauteng have placed on us. It also leaves staff anxious as they are worried about their future,” Mamabolo pointed out.
The report says his directive came after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) obtained a court order on 20 August to freeze the bank accounts of 40 entities linked to an irregularly obtained personal protective equipment (PPE) contract from the Gauteng Health Department.
The judgment reportedly ordered that the pension fund of Kabelo Lehloenya, former chief financial officer of the Gauteng Health Department, be frozen and not released to him. He has been identified as having signed off on irregular PPE contracts to the extent of R2bn.
Meanwhile, Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku has again denied his involvement in irregular PPE deals. In a lawyer's letter, dated 24 August 2020, which News24 says it has seen, Masuku placed it on record he had appeared before the ANC's Provincial Integrity Committee in Gauteng and SIU in his respective capacities as a provincial executive committee member of the ANC in Gauteng and Health MEC.
“Our client has in the said forums, categorically denied any involvement in the procurement processes of the department and further confirmed that neither did he instruct any official to do so in his name,” the letter read. “Our client condemns the conduct of officials who may have used his name to award tenders in the department.”
His lawyers said Masuku “looks forward” to the legal process under way by the SIU “which will eventually clear his name”. They also highlighted that it was Masuku himself who had initiated the investigation into PPE procurement on 17 April 2020.
Masuku's lawyers said they reserved their rights to take legal action against those who defamed him in the media and elsewhere.
[link url="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/mamabolo-orders-gauteng-health-dept-to-act-on-outstanding-disciplinary-cases-20200824"]Full New24 report[/link]
[link url="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/gauteng-health-mec-says-siu-will-clear-his-name-in-ppe-procurement-corruption-probe-20200824"]Full News24 report[/link]