By Lungile Ntimba
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Premier Panyaza Lesufi to remove Lesiba Arnold Malotana as head of the Gauteng Health Department for his alleged misconduct.
Molotana and two other officials from the department are under investigation for allegedly accepting an R8 million bribe by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
DA Gauteng shadow health MEC Jack Bloom raised his concerns on Wednesday over the “ongoing mismanagement and corruption” happening at the department.
The DA questioned Malotana’s qualifications for the job, after the Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko announced his appointment as HOD in July.
“I have referred Premier Lesufi’s suspicious appointment of Malotana to the Public Protector to probe possible irregularities, and they have informed me the Public Service Commission (PSC) is now investigating it,” said Bloom.
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration Jan de Villiers has also requested the PSC to investigate Malotana’s appointment.
In July, the premier defended his appointment of Malotana, saying that the provincial government followed all required public service recruitment and selection processes before he was hired.
However, Bloom said it should not be forgotten that there were other alleged dodgy dealings involving the department, including a cover up of corrupt payments at Tembisa Hospital revealed by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
The DA believes that a radical change is needed to combat corruption and ensure its budget is properly spent on decent public healthcare.
Panyaza’s spokesperson Sizwe Pamla told Inside Politics that the premier would meet the department to discuss the matter.
He did not want to give further details.
INSIDE POLITICS
