Disgraced Gauteng health department boss resigns

It is understood that suspended head of Gauteng department of health Dr Barney Selebano has tendered his resignation.

Although politically accountable to health MEC Dr Gwendoline Ramokgopa, the accounting officer for the beleaguered provincial department can only forward his resignation to Premier David Makhura.

This is because heads of department contracts are signed between themselves and the premier.

Selebano made news during Life Esidimeni hearings in December 2017 when he admitted that he made unethical decisions not in line with ethics and code of conduct for medical professionals because he was “scared” of former MEC Qedani Mahlangu.

Those decisions included approving what was known was “mental health project” without a feasibility plan as well as terminating service of Life Esidimeni hospital group and moving patients to ill-equipped NGOs, most of which suspended director of health Dr Makgabo Manamela admitted to the hearings were totally inappropriate and lacked the requisite mental health professionals and facilities.

Spokesperson for Gauteng premier Thabo Masebe said he was unable to confirm whether a resignation had been received by the premier, as “we can only comment once the premier has received and processed the resignation”.

//