Dept spends 13 mitha on workers sitting at home | Daily Sun

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says eight workers were paid while sitting idly at home.

THE Gauteng Department of Health spends millions of rands on its workforce.

The department has spent a staggering R13 million on staff members sitting at home.

This was revealed in a written response by Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, when she answered a question from DA member, Jack Bloom.

Bloom had asked how many staff members are currently suspended with or without pay, respectively.

In the reply, Nkomo-Ralehoko said there were eight and one of them has since resigned. The suspensions vary from procurement irregularities, a job selling scam to assault.

Advocate Mpelegeng Lebeloane, former Chief Director: Legal Services, received a whooping R4,7 million while sitting at home from July 2019 to 2013. She retired in July 2024.

“Three senior staff members were suspended since 26 January 2022 for alleged financial misconduct concerning refurbishment of the Anglo Ashanti Hospital. One has recently resigned, but more than R6 million has been spent so far on their salaries in this inexcusably long-running matter,” Bloom said.

ALSO READ | Sars boss bags PhD!

Two more officials, suspended since July 2022 under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit, have yet to face charges. Bloom said this was a shocking delay in accountability.

Three officials, who were suspended this year, include an administration clerk implicated in a job selling scam, a medical officer accused of sexual assault and an administration and logistics clerk facing assault charges.

The department blamed the delay in resolving the matter to “prolonged investigations and repeated postponements of the hearing dates”.

Bloom said: “This pathetic handling of disciplinary matters is one of many management failures which justify the DA’s call for Premier Panyaza Lesufi to remove the department Head Mr Lesiba Malotana.”

He said the party stands against prolonged disciplinary processes as they affect the effective running of departments, leading to poor service delivery to the citizens.

“We propose that the period of suspension should not exceed 60 days,” Bloom said.