Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday said it was concerned that nine out of 37 Gauteng public hospitals are being run by acting Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).
The DA said the previous ones had “either left or been suspended”.
The situation came to light after the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, sent questions regarding the matter to the Gauteng Legislature.
Answering the questions, Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed, in a written reply, that indeed nine public hospitals were being run by acting CEOs.
“The DA is concerned that one out of four Gauteng public hospitals has acting CEOs who have limited authority to fix a failing health system,” said Bloom.
He said the Kopanong Hospital has been the longest without a permanent CEO since the contract of the previous one expired in February 2022.
“A permanent CEO has also not been appointed at the South Rand Hospital even though the CEO’s contract expired in April 2022,” Bloom said.
“Other reasons are two resignations, one retirement, an internal transfer at Rahima Moosa Hospital, and the CEOs of Tembisa and Pretoria West hospitals are currently suspended awaiting discipline.
“In the case of two hospitals, it’s been more than a year without a permanent replacement.”
The recent Ombud report on the administration of the Rahima Moosa Hospital was critical of poor processes in appointing hospital CEOs.
“It is essential that the best people are appointed speedily so that all hospitals have competent and honest CEOs, instead of cadre deployments whose incompetence causes suffering to patients,” said Bloom.
The public hospitals with acting CEOs include:
- Steve Biko Academic Hospital
- Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital
- Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital
- Kopanong Hospital
- South Rand Hospital
- Tara Moross Hospital
- Pretoria West Hospital
- Tembisa Hospital
- Kalafong Hospital
