By Montsho Matlala
Glen Cowie Sekhukhune: While nurses and other health workers, including general staff, at St Ritas Hospital in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, appear to be performing their duties as normal, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) says emotional wounds inflicted recently by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Provincial Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba have not yet healed, resulting in low morale.
Jacob Molepo, DENOSA’s Provincial Secretary, said Motsoaledi acted unprofessionally by storming into the hospital and publicly tongue lashing CEO Mokgano Mahloele and top management.
“It was a humiliation of the highest order shifting or virtually firing someone live on Facebook at government expense.
Motsoaledi should have called the facility’s management to present charges rather than traumatising everyone and shaming workers on Facebook two weeks ago,” Molepo said.
However, Forster Mohale, spokesperson for the National Department of Health, said there was neither political motive nor a publicity stunt associated with the minister’s recent actions at St Ritas Hospital.
“Minister Dr Motsoaledi was inundated with complaints from the public about the facility, and he paid the hospital an unannounced visit, which informed his remedial action,” Mohale said.
DENOSA, however, disputed this explanation.
“If it was indeed an unannounced visit meant for observation, why did he arrive with his own managers and install them on the spot?
The minister clearly discussed and finalised a package with the premier and provincial Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego. That is why they arrived holding the new CEO and new nursing service manager by the hand and enthroned them in front of video cameras,” the union charged.
Asked about the fate of the removed CEO, Mohale responded:
“The CEO opted to be placed elsewhere by the department. The nursing service manager was found to require additional training and was offered it, but she declined. She has instead been given time to decide where she would like to be placed.”
The department said it will review progress at the hospital under the new management before the end of the year.
