Staff reporter
Bloemfontein – The MEC of Health in Free State, Mathabo Leeto is fingered in the recruitment of employees way below her delegated powers.
An uproar of interference is mushrooming hardly four months after Leeto who was announced as the new MEC of Health on 14 March 2023, after she instructed the acting Deputy Director General: Corporate Affairs to halt recruitment without any reason given.
A memo from Mzonakele Fikizolo dated 20 June 2023, is as clear as daylight.
Sources at the provincial office say the MEC should not be getting involved in lower-level jobs.
“It’s unfortunate that a MEC would instruct DDG to halt recruitment of such levels unless there are ulterior motives.”
Asked what could be the ulterior motive our source said.
“With national elections around the corner, the MEC who is also the Treasurer of ANC on provincial level is looking at recruiting voting cows like we see with EPWP.
They want to employ their comrades.
This explains why MEC asked to be briefed about vacant positions in one of our meetings at National Hospital, it was not out of concern but her own interest.”
Since Leeto took over from erstwhile MEC, Montsheng Tsiu in March, the department made some interesting changes that saw Sipho Towa replaced by Sidney Dywili as spokesperson for EMS and acting Provincial Manager, Papi Marohanye who is a DDG clinical services saw his responsibilities shared with Dr Sammy Mokoena meaning the department now has two DDGs for clinical services.
Dr Mokoena can’t be acting in a position that is not vacant and there is no logic in this but comrades are comrades, they appoint whoever they want even in positions that do not exist.
Step UP News has also learned that Senyorita Nhlabathi Hospital CEO, Dr Diba was called to a meeting in the provincial headquarters where he was allegedly told he will be moved, the meeting according to sources was on 8 May 2023.
In a surprise move, the department has opted not to respond to our media enquires following questions we sent about why is the MEC involving herself in operational matters such as recruitment of levels 1-8.
We also asked why was Dr. Noge served with a notice for suspension last week for charges that were dropped in 2018 and if she was targeted because she was charging a DENOSA leader of sexual harassment.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for Free State Health on Thursday said.
“I can’t get hold of the Director for Labour Relations for him to guide us on the Labour Relations considerations in handling the case of alleged sexual harassment at Bongani.
As it is, we can’t comment on the matter as it may likely be prejudicial to the parties involved.
This time of the year is a bit tricky because people take leave to complete their end-of-year leave cycle before they can lose these days.”
Unfortunately, the response never came through and we sent follow-up questions on Monday including why Advocate Moshodi was working from home in Welkom, and not Bophelo House, and why the MEC instructed Fikizolo to halt recruitment.
He first asked for time to get answers from his bosses before dropping the bomb.
“The Department has decided not to respond to your media enquiry.”
This is the same department that complained about right of reply in the whole changes article.
This is a developing story.
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