The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in the province, Harold McGluwa, has expressed the party’s concerns over the period the department has been without a HOD, together with the reappointment of the current acting HOD. 

It is explained that the department has been without a head since July 2020. The Office of the Premier, in response to this, has time and again informed the DA that a permanent appointment will be made – however, the DA is struggling to see the reason for the prolonged delay in making the permanent appointment. 

“Last year we were told that an advertisement had gone out in June and that the timeframes for the appointment would be provided to the committee, which they never were,” adds McGluwa.

ALSO READ: NC Health-HOD out on bail

He further explains that on 24 March 2023 they were informed that under no uncertain terms an appointment would be made within two weeks. 

“We are disappointed that, despite the commitment made to the legislature portfolio committee, a permanent HOD appointment still has not been made.”

Coming to the reappointment of Dr Dion Theys as the acting HOD, McGluwa says they are skeptical because Theys was arrested twice within six months. 

“While some charges have been dropped, and has not been criminally convicted, he was arrested within six months, during his former tenure as acting HOD.”

Also read: NC Health suspends senior officials

ALSO READ: NC -health suspends senior officials

McGluwa makes mention that one case which the current acting HOD was arrested for relates to a 2014 lease agreement of the nursing students' accommodation amounting to R96 million. While the other case is about procurement irregularities in personal protective equipment (PPE) tender from 2020 valued at R43 million. 

“With regards to the PPE case, the charges against Theys and the Chief Financial Officer, Daniel Gaborone were provisionally withdrawn in December of last year.”  

ALSO READ: NC former Health officials set for 2022 trial

He concludes that given the extent of corruption within the health department, Theys’ appointment does not inspire confidence in the government’s ability to clean up the department. It was in 2021 when Theys and Gaborone were accused to have approved payments to two service providers amounting to over R43 million without following proper and adequate Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) processes. 

This is the case that is believed to have been provisionally withdrawn.

In another case, it is alleged that in March 2014, Theys signed three lease agreements with JP Hugo Residence for nursing accommodation, without following normal procurement processes. 

Hawks provincial spokesperson, Nomthandoza Mnisi, at the time said the total cost of these lease agreements is approximately R96 million. In 2020, it was reported that the Hawks in the province have arrested suspects for their alleged involvement in a nearly R10 million fraud scandal that rocked the provincial Health Department.

The suspects, in this case, included the project manager of the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley. She also said the alleged fraud dates back to a 2014 multi-regional renovation project. According to Mnisi, in 2014 the Northern Cape Department of Health awarded contracts for the renovation of various hospitals across the province.

It is at the moment unclear whether Gaborone has been re-appointed as the department’s CFO. An inquiry has been sent to the department for a comment.

OFM News