Tembisa Hospital CEO Dr Lekopane Mogaladi has hauled Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize to court in a bid to force him to appoint an independent tribunal to oversee his appeal against a damning report by the health ombudsman, reports SowetanLIVE.
Health ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba found that the care rendered to patient Shonisani Lethole at Tembisa Hospital in June last year was not only substandard but also negligent and recommended that disciplinary action be taken against Mogaladi.
In an affidavit, which forms part of his court papers filed before the High Court in Johannesburg last week, Mogaladi said he had not heard anything from Mkhize despite having lodged an appeal against the report in February.
Mogaladi said in the SowetanLIVE report that he was launching the application in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act to compel Mkhize to appoint a tribunal to oversee his appeal against Makgoba's findings, which he did not agree with.
He also argued that Makgoba made unreasonable and irrational findings and recommendations. Mogaladi said he was not given a fair hearing as he was not allowed to interview witnesses who gave adverse evidence against him and his colleagues.
Health Department spokesperson Popo Maja said Mkhize would only be able to respond "as soon as he had obtained a legal opinion" on the matter.
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