MBOMBELA – The curatorship of the Department of Health was lifted a week before employees at Rob Ferreira Hospital embarked on yet another strike.
The department’s finances was placed under the custodianship of the MEC for finance, Mr Eric Kholwane in June due to poor leadership and financial management, as well as a lack of risk assessment and quick response. But striking staff caused havoc at the hospital this week until the issue was resolved on Wednesday (see story here).
Premier Mr David Mabuza said after a provincial executive lekgotla held in Skukuza this week, that despite numerous challenges faced by the department, the overall management had significantly improved.
“It is against this backdrop that we have taken a cautious decision to cancel the curatorship of this department. We will continue to pay close attention and monitor its recovery up to a point where it can stand on its own feet.”
During the lekgotla Mabuza said the department’s leadership had deliberately erred and had not been willing to take guidance from the executive council prior to being placed under curatorship. He said certain senior officials had since been fired. The department was now tasked with implementing an approved turnaround plan and filling vacant funded positions to enhance leadership within institutions like hospitals.
“We will resolve all the problems that were faced by the Department of Health,” he said. He also called on government leaders to ensure accelerated service delivery.
“Time is against us. We need to improve our pace and methods. People are getting impatient with their own government, and depending on the attitude of those in leadership positions, they may even go astray.
“Our attitude in delivering these much-needed services to the people, might make or break the ruling party and us.
“This laissez-faire attitude must stop. We must be radical in our approach. Further- more we must make more allowance for public participation since we have a duty to include our people.”
