Fire Dhlomo now

KZN Premier Zweli Mkhize must fire Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo. There must be no excuses or delays (see Sunday Tribune report).

Dhlomo used Durban's only medical helicopter to attend a funeral in Hlabisa while 15-year-old car crash victim Asheen Maharaj waited in vain for an airlift to hospital. Maharaj has since been declared brain-dead - his family died in the accident.

Dhlomo and the Health Department then lied to the public about the reasons for the Hlabisa visit. Dhlomo said he was there to quell a community uprising - which is not a valid or legal reason to commandeer the helicopter anyway.

It is now public knowledge that Dhlomo attended a funeral of Hlabisa hospital head Dawn Zungu's relative. Dhlomo's motorcade arrived in Hlabisa before he did.
Not a shred of sympathy or remorse has been shown toward the Maharaj family.

It is also a certainty that Asheen Maharaj's case was not the only medical emergency in Durban on that day.

The Health MEC knowingly shrugged off all the deaths and lifetime's worth of damage to Durban families he would cause by taking that medical helicopter.

There is only one way to describe MEC Dhlomo's actions and that is evil. He is meant to be responsible for public healthcare but clearly doesn't give a damn.

The DA will not stop until Dhlomo is fired and the family of Asheen Maharaj is properly compensated for the horrific, preventable tragedy they have suffered.

All information about medical emergencies in Durban on that day must be released immediately. Both the Red Cross Air Mercy Services and Health Department have an obligation to do this.

Power abuse in KZN now has a face, and frankly MEC Dhlomo should never show it in public again.

Statement issued by Sizwe Mchunu, DA KZN Leader, November 25 2012

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