Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Health has paid more than R780000 to 13 officials - including four directors who had been on suspension with full pay since January last year.
This was revealed by the Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Bandile Masuku, in his written reply to questions in the provincial legislature from the DA’s Jack Bloom.
Dr Masuku said the 13 also included two social workers; operation manager: nursing; a property caretaker; two contract workers; a radiographer; a deputy director: admin support services, and deputy director: communication.
Of the four directors, Masuku said two were involved in supply chain management, another in labour relations and the fourth was responsible for security.
He also said the department had placed on special leave its head of legal services, advocate Mpelegeng Lebeloane, while awaiting an investigation by the Public Service Commission “into the functionality of the unit under her leadership”.
Yesterday, Lebeloane confirmed the special leave. Lebeloane is a former chief of staff in the office of former Gauteng health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa. She was later appointed chief director: legal services in March 2018.
Lebeloane previously worked at the Department of Water and Sanitation as director of legal services.
Masuku revealed that four National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union shop stewards - Nozipho Cele, Donald Phasha, Martin Ndwandwe and Godfrey Mphahlele - had challenged their dismissals at the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council. He said the four had been fired for misconduct.