Following an agreement reached today between employees, Labour and the health department on the issues raised by employees regarding the operation of the hospital, the strike was called off.
Employees through their Organised Labour raised concerns on the new referral policy, budget, safety, staffing, purchase of medical equipment and the matter regarding the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer, Mduduzi Shabangu.
After numerous consultations with the labour unions, a decision to lift the suspension of the CEO was made. According to the department this, however, does not mean that the recommendation by the Public Service Commission, Public Protector and Human Rights Commission which recommended that actions be taken against the CEO for failing to comply with the Tobacco Product Act will be lifted.
“The suspension of the CEO was implemented in line with the Senior Management Service(SMS )handbook. In terms of the handbook, the department must finalise its internal investigation within 60 days and make a decision as to whether or not there are valid grounds to subject the CEO to a disciplinary hearing. The department has however reconsidered the option of the precautionary suspension and will implement the precautionary transfer of the CEO to the provincial office during the time of the investigation,” reads a statement from the health department.
