An investigative report into the unions-instigated unrest last year at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, west of Pretoria, has made damning findings against some of the staff and the suspended CEO, Sello Matjila.
In November, unions – including the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) – called for Matjila's removal amid allegations of maladministration and corruption, reports News24.
An attorney and accredited commissioner from the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), Kuvonakala Chavalala, was appointed to probe the unions’ allegations, which included the fraudulent capture of a Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) contract of the nursing manager at the time, Verah Mathabatha.
A PMDS tracks the performance of employees in a consistent, measurable manner.
But the investigation revealed that the PMDS contract was non-existent, said Chavalala. “The non-existent PMDS 2021/22 contract was captured on the system by Given Lesufi, the HR clerk at PMDS. This exacerbated the conflict between Matjila and Mathabatha, as another grievance was lodged by Mathabatha as a result. No disciplinary action was taken against the clerk.”
In the report, Chavalala recommended that disciplinary action be instituted against Lesufi for negligence and against Matjila for contravention of section 38 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and for failure to take disciplinary action against an official who undermined internal controls.
According to sources, Mathabatha had lodged a grievance for not having a PMDS contract for the 2020/21 financial year in the Personal and Salary System.
“It’s been almost two years since the grievance, and because of that, she was charged for claiming she does not have a PMDS,” they said.
Hospital employees claim Lesufi lied and forged the PMDS document that was used as proof against Mathabatha’s grievance. However, she is still financially affected because of no grade progression in her contract.
She is appealing her dismissal on charges of misconduct that are not stipulated in the report, which is still pending in the MEC’s office.
She was precautionarily transferred in August 2021 to Steve Biko Academic Hospital, because her relationship with management was allegedly intolerable and because the outcome of her appeal against her dismissal was still outstanding.
Abuse of precautionary transfer
However, the CCMA subsequently ruled that she be reinstated at Kalafong because 60 days had elapsed without a disciplinary hearing being instituted.
Chavalala also recommended that disciplinary steps be taken against Matjila for failing to ensure the institution maintained effective, with efficient and transparent systems of financial risk and management controls as prescribed by the PFMA.
Meanwhile, Denosa Tshwane regional chairperson Bongani Banda said the investigation into Kalafong labour issues had only scratched the surface and that the evidence showed Matjila was an incompetent accounting officer.
There were also complaints about Matjila refusing to offer a venue for labour activities and the issuing of precautionary suspension letters to shop stewards, without consultation, for picketing at the hospital.
Chavalala found that good labour practices – under the Labour Relations Act – were not complied with when the letters were issued.
The report concluded that Matjila should not return to the hospital because of the strained relationship with organised labour and the two charges Chavalala recommended be instituted against him.
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