GAUTENG HEALTH MUST CONFIRM HEAD'S DEPARTURE AND APPOINT COMPETENT REPLACEMENT

According to reports that I have confirmed, Dr Nomonde Xundu, the Head of the Gauteng Health Department, has requested to leave her post.

She has only been a year in this position, and her predecessor Dr Kamy Chetty also left suddenly for unexplained reasons.

It has been evident for some time that Dr Xundu was not coping with the huge demands of this department which has lurched from one crisis to another.

I have the highest regard for Dr Xundu as an HIV/Aids specialist, but she should never have been appointed in the first place as she lacked senior management experience.

The uncertainty over her future plans is affecting the running of the department. Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo must tell us why she is leaving and what is being done to appoint a tip-top person to implement the department's ambitious turn-around plans.

This department has had three administrative heads in three years and desperately needs a competent top manager as soon as possible.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, October 4 2012

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