LIMPOPO – Nkhensani Hospital has gone through its fifth acting CEO since 2016, when the hospital’s last permanent CEO, Themba Mhlanga, left the position.

Madida Malatji is the latest person to have served as acting CEO, although the Limpopo Department of Health has rejected claims that he was removed from the position, saying his appointment was temporary and made on an acting basis.

The latest development has again raised questions over why the CEO position at the hospital has remained vacant for about eight years, despite Nkhensani being classified as a “district hospital”.

Department denies Malatji was removed

Responding to questions on the situation, the provincial Department of Health’s spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana, said Malatji had not been removed.

“Mr Madida Malatji was not removed from the position of acting CEO. His appointment was made on an acting and temporary basis and was not a permanent appointment to the position of CEO,” explained Shikwambana.

The department, however, confirmed that it has been unable to permanently fill the position since Mhlanga left in 2016.

Shikwambana attributed some of the delays to financial constraints that affected the department’s ability to fill vacant posts.

“Following the improvement of the department’s financial position, the CEO post was advertised on several occasions. However, the recruitment processes did not result in the appointment of a suitable candidate due to limited interest and, in subsequent processes, the absence of a suitable candidate who met the requirements for appointment,” he said.

Acting arrangements “necessary” for continuity

Shikwambana defended the hospital’s use of acting CEOs, saying the arrangements ensured leadership, while efforts to appoint a permanent CEO continued.

“The acting arrangements were necessary to ensure continuity of management and leadership at Nkhensani Hospital while efforts to permanently fill the CEO position were ongoing,” he said.

He said the department had advertised the post several times, but recruitment attempts failed because of limited interest or a lack of suitable candidates.

The department did not specify how many times the position had been advertised since 2016. As a result, Nkhensani Hospital has operated without a permanent CEO since Mhlanga’s departure.

Recruitment underway again

Shikwambana said recruitment was again underway and the department remained committed to appointing a permanent CEO once the process was completed and a suitable candidate identified.

No timeline was provided for the appointment.