A Johannesburg nurse who was dismissed after lodging sexual harassment complaints against a senior manager is headed for the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), alleging she was targeted by him after rejecting his persistent advances.
In the misconduct dispute document, the nurse said she was dismissed on a charge she refutes and was not afforded an opportunity to appeal. She wants to be reinstated, reports TimesLIVE.
Life Brenthurst Hospital, which confirmed her dismissal after a disciplinary process, said an inquiry was instituted after they were alerted to her allegations.
The Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union (Haitu), which is assisting her, criticised hospital management for not efficiently attending to the matter, saying the manager was not suspended to allow investigations to unfold without prejudice.
It said the line manager attempted to touch the nurse inappropriately more than once.
Haitu said: “He repeatedly tried to negotiate sex with her in exchange for favours at work. She was scared to report him … because he threatened her, claiming no one would believe her because he is connected to senior management.
“Eventually, because she refused to give in to his advances, the line manager started a process to try to remove her … concocting charges that certain drugs ‘went missing’ during her shift. She was taken through a disciplinary hearing and then dismissed.”
The union has accused the hospital of not implementing its own zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.
“We were shocked to discover that though they had started an investigation, the line manager was still on duty. They were interviewing possible witnesses while the man was around. He should have been suspended pending an independent investigation.”
Haitu added that a criminal case has been opened at the police station against the man.
In a recording, in possession of TimesLIVE Premium, two people are having a conversation where the woman is heard saying him she is uncomfortable with the advances and he asks her why. She responds “because this is work”.
He replies: “… Can we try? A quick one and we put an end to it.” She responds “no”.
Life Brenthurst Hospital said it was aware of the allegations of sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
“An internal investigation, aligned with our HR policies and processes, commenced at the time … is still under way,” said manager Pragna Patel.
On accusations that it did not suspend the man after the claims were made, the hospital said the employee was on annual leave.
“We confirm the alleged victim was dismissed for misconduct on May 30, after an internal disciplinary hearing. We received notification on 15 June that she had referred an unfair dismissal claim to the CCMA.”
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