eMbalenhle-woman told she ruined her child’s chances of employment

eMBALENHLE – Ms Lizbeth Masilela (50) accused Evander Hospital of nepotism after she applied for a cleaner’s position, was interviewed and then told the job was actually for her daughter.

Ms Masilela has been a volunteer for 20 years at different clinics around Govan Mbeki Municipality and even now no one recognizes her work.

She is currently a volunteer at the Ext 14 clinic in eMbalenhle.

Ms Masilela applied for the cleaner’s position that was advertised by the hospital via their internal social media two months ago.

She was very happy to be called for an interview at Evander.

She was ecstatic when she received a phone call two days later.

“I recognised the number as that of the hospital and I thought it was a dream come true as the caller told me that he was calling from the hospital’s human resources department.

“But my good spirit was crushed when the man told me that I was destroying my daughter’s chance to be employed by the hospital because I went for an interview that was meant for her.”

Ms Masilela became so angry because her ID document and number were part of the documents that were viewed by the interviewing panel.

“I never saw even one document of my daughter,” said Ms Masilela.

She is now accusing the hospital of corruption and nepotism.

“What surprises me even more, is that my daughter and I have different names, cellphone numbers and identity numbers.

“I ask myself: how on earth can it happen that I denied my child a chance to be employed?”

Ms Masilela said the ordeal has caused tension between mother and daughter.

She wants Evander Hospital to clarify the matter.

She still intends to be a volunteer but wants answers.

Evander Hospital disputed Ms Masilela’s accusation.

Ms Madala Ndlovu, chief executive officer at Evander Hospital, agreed that posts were advertised at Evander Hospital.

However, according to Ms Ndlovu, the daughter wrote up her mother’s cellphone number as that of her contact number where she could be reached.

“Ms Masilela’s daughter was one of the three candidates on the shortlist of the human resources department.

“They contacted the applicants at the contact numbers provided on their CVs.

“We did tell Ms Masilela that her daughter was to be interviewed.

“We were surprised to see Ms Masilela herself coming for interviews, as we were expecting her daughter, but we continued with interviews.”

Ms Ndlovu said due to unforeseen circumstances, the posts have been frozen and no one has yet been appointed.

Ms Ndlovu also claims that she called Ms Masilela and her daughter Ms Duduzile Masilela, to try and resolve the matter.

“After a long argument it was revealed that the hospital was reckless and its system of recruitment was overlooked.”

The question was how it came about that Ms Masilela was interviewed while she was not the candidate.

The hospital only realised after the interviews that it was not Duduzile who were interviewed.

They tried to correct this by phoning the given number and asking for Duduzile.

Ms Masilela became furious after she was told she is the one who ruined her daughter’s chances.

But the CEO persists that Ms Mashilela was not on the short list – it was meant for her daughter.

Ms Ndlovu also said Ms Masilela already has a personnel number and she is being paid by the Department of Health.

She questioned why Ms Mashilela took her complaints to the media without first taking it up with the CEO.

Ms Ndlovu did, however, promise to resolve the matter.