Angry father brands health MEC a liar
The Mabokela family claims the department of health never offered their son, Tumisho the alternative to apply to lied to study medicine in South Africa
POLOKWANE – The would-be Cuban medical scholarship recipient, Tumisho Mabokela, whose scholarship was cancelled at the last minute by the department of health citing health reasons, was not offered the alternative to apply for a medical bursary in South Africa.
This was according to Jake, Tumisho’s father, who said the MEC for health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba lied to the nation when she made this claim on a radio station recently.
The MEC is lying. If they indeed advised my son to study medicine in South Africa, we would have already accepted their advice. Even if they come now with such advice, we will accept it. My son wants to study medicine.
“If the MEC says they advised my son on this, let them produce proof. The only correspondence we had with them was when we received a letter in January stating they were rejecting him.”
He further said he wanted the Public Protector and the Human Rights Commission to probe the department, especially with regard to the Cuban medical scholarships.
“My son has a clean bill of health. We have a medical report from a reputable doctor,” he insisted.
Spokesperson for the department, Derick Kganyago, said Ramathuba had not advised Tumisho herself, but had delegated officials to communicate with the Makobela family.
“They advised Tumisho to apply for a bursary to study medicine in South Africa. If there is anything the family needs to discuss with the department, we are still open to discuss this matter. We have bursaries that Tumisho can apply for to study medicine in one of the reputable institutions here in South Africa.
“I don’t know if Tumisho refused the advice or not. The Mabokela family can come to our offices, so that we can sit down and find a solution,” Kganyago concluded.
