Eleven sexual harassment cases reported at public health facilities during 2020. Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi has responded to questions on sexual harassment laid forward by Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Member of the Provincial Legislature Jack Bloom.
A statement released by the DA said that 11 sexual harassment cases were reported in Gauteng public health facilities, but only four criminal charges have been laid against the perpetrators. Mokgethi confirmed that 11 cases have been reported with two sexual harassment allegations at the Helen Joseph Hospital, two at the Pretoria West Hospital, and one incident at each at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, Kopanong Hospital, Mamelodi Hospital, Soshanguve Clinic, Stanza Bopape Clinic, Itereleng Clinic and Johannesburg District.
All these incidents took place in 2020 and disciplinary action has taken course in some of the cases. According to the MEC, the accused at Charlotte Maxeke has been dismissed and the matter has been finalised while both accused at Helen Joseph are still awaiting their hearings on the matter.
Criminal cases have been opened at Charlotte Maxeke, Kopanong Hospital and Stanza Bopape Clinic. Bloom stated, “In the other cases, one was dropped as the employee resigned, one case was closed as no evidence was presented, one case was withdrawn, and six cases are still in progress.”
According to Mokgethi, the other complainants opted not to proceed with criminal cases due to their own personal reasons. Bloom added, “The department has a 2016 Sexual Harassment Policy in place, and 24-hour psychosocial support is available for staff. It is important that there are consequences for sexual harassment in the workplace, otherwise there will be under-reporting and abuses will continue.”
