Still no outcome after ‘job’s for pals’ investigation
Among those who were employed was the wife of Umjindi speaker, Cllr Vusi Mkhatshwa, who also serves as the ANC councillor for Ward 4 at Emjindini and is the Mpumalanga Ancyl deputy chairperson.
BARBERTON – Six months after the Mpumalanga department of health started an investigation into allegations of nepotism at Barberton General Hospital, there have still been no results.
This is according to spokesman, Ronnie Masilela, who also confirmed that the investigation was still underway. He said the department regretted the fact that the matter has taken so long but he assured that it would be finalised within seven days.
“Our investigation is 99 per cent complete. We are finalising our findings and recommendations. I can assure you that by next Monday (March 21) we will be in a position to release them,” said Masilela on Monday.
In October 2013, an internal investigation by the department began in earnest when it received a tip-off that implicated Umjindi ANC officials, union members representing workers within the hospital, and senior staff members who had favoured relatives and friends for posts.
Four union members representing the workers were suspended on full pay on October 23, pending an investigation.
Sunday Myeni and Muzi Shongwe of National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), Thembi Zulu (The Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa) and Edna Godi of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa are continuing to draw their monthly salaries despite the fact that they have been suspended for the past five months.
They were members of the interviewing panel allegedly implicated in the job-for-pals scheme at this hospital.
At the time, 38 general workers, (15 alleged card-carrying ANC members and the rest friends and relatives of union members representing workers within the hospital and senior staff members) were controversially employed at the hospital.
Initially, according to an internal circular dated April 26, there were vacant posts for 15 cleaners and five groundsmen at the local general hospital. But surprisingly, when appointments were made on September 26, the posts had increased to 38 (30 cleaners and eight groundsmen).
Among those who were employed was the wife of Umjindi speaker, Cllr Vusi Mkhatshwa, who also serves as the ANC councillor for Ward 4 at Emjindini and is the Mpumalanga Ancyl deputy chairperson.
Mkhathswa had previously confirmed to Barberton Times that his wife, Nonkhululeko Vilakazi, had been employed but said he’d had nothing to do with it. Many of these new employees, like Mkhatshwa’s wife, did not have the necessary qualifications as the vacancies were meant to benefit the underprivileged.
The minimum requirements for the posts of groundsmen and cleaners are an adult basic education and training or grade 10 and they have to be residents of the town.
Mkhathswa’s wife had matric and a national certificate for computer. Numerous furious local residents asked, “How will the poor benefit if you ANC are taking their jobs.”
