Dismissed doctors still on duty
JOBURG – Jack Bloom says most of these employees were initially suspended, but were allowed back because their appeal was not heard within the required 30 days.
DA Member of the Oversight Committee on the Premier’s Office and Legislature Jack Bloom said 37 doctors, who were found guilty and dismissed for various reasons, are still working for the Gauteng Health Department.
“According to a written reply by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, 37 employees in Gauteng public hospitals are working in their jobs – despite being dismissed for offences that include fraud, gross misconduct, assault and theft,” said Bloom.
According to Bloom, most of these employees were initially suspended, but were allowed back because their appeal was not heard within the required 30 days.
“The reason they are still working is because of long delays in hearing their appeals against dismissal. Out of 47 appeals, 10 people were dismissed because of absence, but 37 others remain in their jobs earning a full salary,” he said.
According to Bloom, the appeal that has dragged on the longest is that of a dentist at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Germiston who appealed in October 2013.
“Three other appeals date back to November 2013, and there are 32 other appeals that have not been finalised after more than six months.”
According to Bloom, Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the Appeal Advisory Committee is considering the appeals, following which they will give their recommendations to the MEC.
“She says that the recently appointed committee was dedicated in the last few months to clearing ‘a huge backlog’ and that it is ‘working on a fast-track programme to ensure the finalisation of the outstanding appeals,” Bloom concluded.
Gauteng Health Department was unavailable for comment at the time of publishing.
