KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo announces stringent action against moonlighting doctors and corrupt officials
Honourable Chairperson,
Hon Members of the Committee.
Members will recall the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Aaron Motsoaledi made an announcement informing all South African that all issues pertaining to Ebola suspect cases and the outbreak thereof would be handled by his office.
Minister Motsoaledi also announced the names of the Hospitals in the country that were to be prepared to deal with EBOLA cases, in KZN, Addington Hospital was selected for that function.
As I have indicated, it is only the Minister who makes pronouncements on Ebola but due to the Media scare and hullabaloo last week; I thought it wise to take Members into confidence and report on what really happened.
Here we had a 46 year old male from UThungulu District who has been working in Sierra Leone for a period of two and half months as a fleet manager and returned to South Africa on October 15, 2014.
On the 16th he phoned and asked if he could have an Ebola test even though he was not ill and did not have signs and symptoms for this disease. He then indicated that he would attend Bay hospital in Richards Bay. Upon follow up, he indicated that he was tested privately, and was negative for Ebola and malaria.
Upon discovering that there were no records of a test being done at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, he was advised to contact us immediately. On the 29th October he contacted the Provincial CDC unit and advised that he needed an Ebola test as he now was feeling ill, and displaying symptoms of Fever; Diarrhoea; Vomiting; Sore muscles as well as skin rash. We advised him to go to Ngwelezane Hospital which was then prepared and placed on alert to receive him.
After about an hour an half, he had not arrived and was contacted on his cell only to learn that he now had to drop his son at the King Shaka International Airport. We then advised him to proceed to Addington hospital, and he agreed and Addington Hospital was placed on alert to receive him.
He then disappeared and did not answer the calls. On Thursday, October 30, we assembled a Response Team comprising of Emergency Medical Services Ebola Virus Disease response unit; UThungulu District CDC and a Doctor from Ngwelezane hospital. The suspect was tracked down and advised to go to Addington Hospital which he eventually agreed to.
The EMS team transported to him to Addington, and he was handed over the Isolation unit for investigations which were done and after two days, diagnosis results proved negative.
SCOPA
Honourable Members, I also take this opportunity to report on findings of the Auditor General that were tabled and discussed at the SCOPA meeting held at Amajuba District Municipality last week.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health was tasked with finding means address issues of qualified audit on certain aspects:
Asset Management
We have since committed to ensure that all Assets listed on the asset register will be physically verified on a cycle basis and all discrepancies resolved timeously. The Asset Management Team will ensure that the asset register is prepared in accordance with GRAP 17 and all assets that meet the de-recognition criteria are removed.
Supply Chain Management
We undertook to follow up with the departments SCM Unit to ensure that the all expired contracts are timeously terminated and the Department’s procurement processes are followed to ensure fair and transparent procurement of goods and services.
Human Resource Management
The Human Resources Manager has been tasked with ensuring that all leave is timeously captured and approved. Monthly reports will now be drawn and compared to the actual leave forms to ensure that all leave has been correctly captured.
Finance / Inventory Management / MEDSAS Reconciliation
The Finance Manager has been tasked to perform regular reconciliations of pharmaceuticals delivered, to sales recorded on the MEDSAS system, as well as to follow up on all outstanding delivery notes. The supervisory stores officials at the PPSD have been tasked with reviewing the copies of the consignment notes from the couriering company to ensure that these are signed / stamped by receiving clerks and/or security at the institutions.
Investigations
The department was asked to provide details of the investigations that have been completed; the nature of those investigations and action taken against officials and service providers. The department reported that in its efforts to address the problem of corruption it established a dedicated unit to undertake investigations.
Here we indicated that since 2009, the department has dealt with Four Hundred and Forty Eight (448) cases involving Four Hundred and Six (406) personnel. Officials implicated in fraud and corruption range from the lowest level in to senior management ranks.
In relation to finalised cases, One Hundred and One (101) officials have been dismissed. Of the dismissed officials, Twenty Four (24) are in the Middle and Senior Management levels, viz. salary levels 12 to 15. We have also had Sixty (60) officials resigning either while they were being investigated or after they had been served with charges. 22 of these were in both Middle and Senior Management strata of which Four (4) have already been criminally charged and their cases are pending.
Members will appreciate that some of the cases being dealt with are sub judice but please do allow me to name a few current high level cases that are on the roll:
Hlabisa Hospital
Two employees were charged for allegations of selling corpses in the mortuary. The two employees have since resigned from the institution. Criminal cases were registered with SAPS and investigations are on-going. One employee has been served with charges and the disciplinary hearing was set down for the 11th and 12th September 2014.
Addington Hospital
The internal investigations around Oncology and Radiology have been finalised. Criminal cases were registered with South African Police Services and awaiting their outcome. This matter has also been handed over to National Treasury as part of the National investigations around the implicated service provider(s).
Human Resources Investigation
The HRM investigation involving a Senior Manager has been finalised and the department has finalised its arguments in the hearing. The Senior Manager will present her response in the next hearing
SCM Investigations at Head Office
One SCM Case that involves a Senior Manager at Head Office has been finalised. The disciplinary process is being finalised. The second case involving SCM, the official resigned on 31 July 2014.
The third case involving a Senior Manager at Head Office, disciplinary hearing is still in progress. The fourth case involving a Finance Manager has been finalised, both parties have submitted their Heads of Argument to the Chairperson and the department is awaiting the ruling herein.
Information Technology (IT) Investigation
The investigation was completed and while the hearing was on-going, the implicated Senior Manager entered into a settlement agreement to resign from the department with effect from 28 February 2015. However, the Department will only pay the salary until 31 December 2014.
Remunerative Work outside Public Practice (RWOPS)
In respect of investigations relating to officials performing remunerative work outside their normal sphere of work, it was identified that 157 employees of the department had traded with KwaZulu-Natal Provincial departments during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 financial years.
The total value of the transactions amounted to R 82.1 million. To date, seventy six (76) employees have been served with charges in relation to performing work outside public practice without obtaining the requisite authority to do so.
The quantum that is due to the department has been determined at R 2 939 199.55 (i.e. amount recoverable) from 22 employees, both active and those who had subsequently resigned after trading with the state. Payment arrangements with the employees have been made.
Honourable Chairperson, I am proud to declare that our efforts to fight corruption today serve as a benchmark and best practice for other departments.
I thank you!
