111 Jobs for cash at Soweto hospital

23 October 2018

The Gauteng Health Department has conducted disciplinary hearings for 111 cases of jobs for cash at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto.

This astounding information was disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa in an oral reply to my questions yesterday in the Gauteng Legislature.

She says that trade unions had assisted in uncovering this huge jobs scam and it had been handed over to the Hawks for investigation.

Cases have also been opened with the police for employees who extorted money under the false pretense that they could get jobs for people at the hospital.

All but 8 of the 111 cases had been finalized, resulting in various periods of suspension for 98 employees, one demotion, some dismissals and a resignation.

The situation was so bad that an assassin had been hired to murder the hospital CEO, but he had been caught and convicted, and was currently awaiting sentence.

I am concerned that the vast majority of those who got jobs for cash are still working at the hospital, which has a reputation for poor service.

Furthermore, there were serious accusations last year that a senior manager offered jobs for sex, but Ramokgopa said that no one had come forward to lay a formal complaint. She offered an enabling environment for anyone who still wishes to make a complaint in this regard.

It is very distressing that senior hospital management was unable to prevent such large scale corruption.

Only the best people should have been hired to provide quality care at this hospital, and there should be dire consequences for those who undermined the appointment system.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 24 October 2018