Staff reporter
Bethlehem – The battle to oust Chief Executive Officers of at least three hospitals in Free State has intensified with Phillip Radebe’s neck next to the guillotine.
In a story that we reported two weeks ago on how CEOs of Senyorita Nkhabathi in Ladybrand, Bongani Hospital in Welkom, and Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem were targeted, have more.
According to three independent sources from NEHAWU at Phekolong Hospital, Phillip Radebe, the CEO’s problems started last year when he fired two NEHAWU members and also refused to bow to NEHAWU’s demands of 8 shop stewards.
“This started last year when CEO fired two of our members and his sins got worse when he rejected our plea to give 8 shop stewards.
The labor relations act dictates if a union has less than 50 members, it can have 1 shop steward and if a union has less than 100 members, it can have 2 shop stewards.
We have 70 and asked for 8 which is unreasonably high but CEO was prepared to grant us 3.”
Another source said Radebe is aware of the efforts and plans to move him.
“The CEO is acutely aware of the endeavors to remove him from his position, and is reported to have approached his trade union Public Service Association (PSA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to fight his battle.”
Another source from Public Service Association said NEHAWU staged a sit-in on Radebe’s first day in office.
“They never really liked him and they staged a sit-in on his first day in office.
Last year on 2 September, they organized a march and went as far as going to a local radio station to mobilize support but only 50 people came despite the march led by their president.
Even their very own members did not attend the protest because they have 70 members and only 4 joined the protest.”
Asked what the real issue is our source said Radebe sits in Disciplinary Hearings and has to make decisions based on evidence but he is targeted for doing his job.
“It’s rather unfortunate that they think he is targeting their members because he sits in hearings involving PSA and other unions as well for their misconduct cases.
I think Radebe is being soft because last Tuesday he even allowed NEHAWU to use hospital facilities for their general meeting though there is an impasse, that meeting did not even sit because their members did not show up.”
Last week Radebe’s Phekolong District Hospital received compliance certificate from Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC). A huge improvement from excellent he received last year to excellent and compliant.
Phillip Rabebe, CEO of Phekolong Hospital didn’t respond to our questions while Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the Department of Free State Health said there is no plot to oust CEOs.
“The Free State Department of Health has no knowledge of any plot to purge CEOs of any hospital as alleged in your media enquiry.
The Department equally dismisses as unfortunate hearsay that it is working with Nehawu in a plot to purge the CEO.”
Sources say Dr DC Diba, the CEO of Senyorita Nhlabathi Hospital in Ladybrand and Dr Noge, the CEO of Bongani Hospital will be pushed out soon.
With regards to number of shop stewards at Phekolong District Hospital, Mvambi said they are entitled to 3 meaning they have less than 100 members.
“In the case of Phekolong the Union is entitled to 3 Shop Stewards.”
Interestingly, Mvambi refused to answer our question on whether in the past 6 months there were any attempts to transfer Radebe. He could not confirm nor deny and you as the reader will make up your mind.
And the reason why he can’t answer that is because the department is trying to sit on the fence but we know there have been efforts to transfer Radebe, they know it.
Another question Mondli can’t answer is why the department has two DDGs for Clinical Health Services after Dr Sammy Mokoena took over 80% of Papi Marohanye’s functions. In essence there are two DDGs.
This a developing story.
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