A “witch hunt” has been launched by the Gauteng Health MEC to uncover “the leak” over concerns raised by the Chris Hani Baragwanath HR department and other staff regarding the appointment of Dr Nthabiseng Makgana as hospital CEO.
A key HR official has been suspended and a prominent figure in the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) is being probed, two sources told Daily Maverick, after media queries about emailed correspondence by that department to the GDOH and deputy director-general of corporate services expressing concerns about Makgana’s CV and MBA qualifications.
While the suspension letter cites “serious acts of misconduct” and “violation of HR management protocols”, sources said there are suspicions the suspended HR official might have leaked documents on Makgana’s appointment to Daily Maverick.
"But instead of answering your questions and dealing with Makgana’s appointment, they are now on a witch hunt. The MEC (Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko) is starting to threaten people – she was supposed to suspend the person who was acting director of HR, because he was the one who wrote to the MEC querying these discrepancies about the CEO, not the person who was reporting to him.”
Public Service Commission finds faults in Baloyi’s appointment
Basani Baloyi, deputy director-general: corporate services in the GDoH, was copied in the correspondence from the HR department about Makgana’s appointment.
In March 2023, the Public Service Commission (PSC) received an allegation about the irregular appointment of Baloyi. The investigation scope of the PSC was to establish the regularity of the process followed in filling the post, and whether Baloyi met the job’s educational and experience requirements.
The PSC’s recommendations and directions were that:
• The MEC should approach the Labour Court to set aside the decision to appoint Baloyi;
• The department’s Labour Relations/Human Resource section should approach its Legal Services section for assistance in referring the matter to the Office of the State Attorney (the OSA), and the OSA would help the department institute the review proceedings;
• The department should inform the employee of its intended action to afford the employee an opportunity to prepare himself/herself; and
• The MEC should institute review proceedings immediately.
The PSC also recommended the department urgently finalise the organisational structure in consultation with the Premier’s Office and the Department of Public Services & Administration, and the HoD should consider reviewing the recruitment and selection policy to strengthen the headhunting process.
The PSC also recommended corrective action be taken against the former acting HoD and HR representative employees… for failing to provide proper and accurate advice during the recruitment and selection process of the deputy director-general: corporate services.
The GDoH has yet to confirm the progress on these recommendations.
Union wants accountability
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has added its support to the suspension of the HR official – Lindiwe Mazibuko – and Baloyi’s role in the disciplinary action, as she is the official who signed off on the suspension.
In an email sent to Baloyi on 13 May, Cosatu expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding Mazibuko’s suspension, particularly Baloyi’s involvement.
The email criticises Mazibuko’s suspension by Baloyi, referencing minutes from the PSC regarding the appointment of Baloyi to argue that she (Baloyi) does not have the delegated suspension powers and that the decision constitutes bullying and abuse of power.
“We are aware of the Chapter 10 institution (Public Service Commission) where it directed that your appointment should be reversed as you are in the same situation as Dr Makgana…we shall pursue that the directive of PSC is implemented, and you are instructed to pay back the money received in your capacity as DDG-Corporate Services of Gauteng Health,” read the email.
A hospital employee said organised labour had vowed to continue efforts to remove Baloyi and reverse any decisions made during her tenure.
“We … can’t just sit back and watch. We can’t allow corruption to take place under our watch. If our workers (organised labour) apply for positions they don’t qualify for, we tell them bluntly they do not qualify, but when it comes to senior officials the opposite happens. What precedent are these people setting?”.
Daily Maverick sent questions to GDOH on 14 May and had not received a response at the time of publication.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
New Bara CEO’s credentials under scrutiny
8 Gauteng Health CEOs disciplined for oversight failures
Gauteng MEC reviews ‘irregular’ appointments