Newly elected Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, who unexpectedly dropped in at local hospitals last week to inspect conditions and address grievances from patients, was seen scolding staff and reprimanding them for their attitudes.
IOL reports that at Welkom’s Bongani Regional Hospital, where she encountered unwelcoming behaviour from some staff, she had heard numerous complaints from patients, including that clerical staff were unhelpful and slow to assist them.
When the Premier attempted to ascertain from the clerks if that were true, one of them interrupted her while she was talking.
“I am extremely upset with this type of behaviour,” the MEC said in a statement posted on the provincial government’s Facebook page. “Our people have been complaining about staff and I saw it first hand. It is clear that such people have no love for the people and are simply here to collect a pay cheque. Such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
In a video circulating on social media, the Premier is seen reprimanding the staff inside what appears to be a filing office.
“You prepare for interviews knowing very well that you don’t have the passion. And after getting the job, it’s fine because you are in. But it’s not going to continue…. We will not subject our people to this kind of treatment.
“What hurts is that we are ill-treating our own people. You don’t care when someone waits for three hours, because she is not your mother or related to you…
“I also don’t have to explain that I’m a Premier when coming here. I must be treated like everyone else, I don’t have to wear my Premier cap to get good treatment…You treat everyone with respect,” she said.
The Premier added one of the workers should get a warning letter for her unprofessional conduct.
“Because if we don’t do that, this will be a play area…If you still need Batho Pele workshops, please organise it.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
SAHRC to probe hundreds of complaints about public hospitals
Free State hospitals: patient waits 7 months for surgery, others sleep in chairs
DA demands commission of inquiry into state of public health