Johannesburg - The Gauteng Health department has lost its financial head in the middle of one of the biggest health crises the world has seen.
The Gauteng health chief financial officer Kabelo Lehloenya resigned from her position after two years of holding it. This while the department is battling the Coronavirus Covid-19 and having to procure personal protective equipment to hospitals and hire extra personnel at hospitals.
Lehloenya was appointed to her position in February 2018. In the same year, she was also appointed as an independent non-executive director onto the Denel board.
Gauteng health spokesperson Kwara Kekana confirmed the resignation saying it was for personal reasons. Kekana said: “Ms Lehloenya tenderer her resignation at the end of May 2020 which the department accepted. We wish her well in her future endeavors.”
Mphume Llale has been appointed as the interim CFO.
The Democratic Alliance health spokesperson Jack Bloom said the department needed to give an explanation on the resignation.
“The public needs to know. It is in their interesting to know why she resigned. It is highly unusual to resign on the spot during a public health disaster.
“We need to find out what the reason is. This is of great concern and it is suspicious. How does a senior official resign at this time?”
Bloom said it was worrying that the department didn’t have a permanent financial head currently. “Right now we have to get speedy procurements of things like personal protective equipment but everything has to be above board..”
Bloom said Lehloenya came to the department at a time they “needed assistance”. “Under her the issues of late payments improved a bit. More could still be done but that improved,” Bloom said.