Ministry of Health misses deadline to reinstate suspended managers

The Mpumalanga Department of Health has missed its deadline to reinstate eight senior hospital managers who had been suspended for over a year.

It is alleged that the suspensions of the managers were improper because due process was not followed.

Sources say that some of the managers whose names are known The citizenhad been receiving their full salary at home for over a year, while others had been away for about three years.

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The citizen saw a report from the Head of Department on December 21 last year stating that all suspended managers must return to their jobs on January 31 due to non-compliance with labour laws and other related procedures.

The hospitals affected include Embhuleni, Piet Retief, Standerton, Amajuba, Bethal and Ermelo, Witbank TB Hospital, Tonga and Barberton.

“Unacceptable performance and behavior”

“The department has struggled with the dismissal of managers from health care facilities by unions who accused them of unacceptable performance and behavior,” the report said.

“The Department is guided by various laws and policies of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in matters relating to the management of human resources in the Department.”

According to the DPSA’s policy on disciplinary and incapacity matters, only the Head of Department and the Senior Officer have the authority to dismiss employees from their posts.

The same document provides guidance on the use of the Code in cases where the employee is unable to consistently deliver the expected performance.

The code should primarily serve to improve an employee’s poor performance, not to get rid of him.”

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The document stated that the employee could not be dismissed on the grounds of incapacity for work before a procedure to determine incapacity for work had been initiated.

The report further stated that the department analyzed and investigated the allegations made against the managers and proposed a plan to facilitate their return to work.

In addition, unions were asked to use the correct channels and follow the correct guidelines and to report in writing when managers’ performance is unacceptable so that an investigation can be carried out.

“All managers who have been dismissed from the facilities will be referred for psychological support before their reintegration. Unions are asked to help smooth the way before the managers are reintegrated into their facilities.”

According to the report, allegations against the managers ranged from corruption to abuse of power to poor performance.

Speaker answers

When asked why staff had not returned to work, Mpumalanga Department of Health spokesperson Dumisani Malamule acknowledged that some managers had been suspended, but denied that the officials had been unlawfully suspended.

“Employees who have been precautionarily suspended, the investigation is complete, a reinstatement program is underway and we hope to have it completed by mid-August, the January date in your question is not known to this office.

“Nehawu was under the influence when making the decision to suspend certain managers. It is common knowledge that Nehawu has made some allegations against some managers and that the department, after careful consideration, has deemed it necessary to impose a precautionary suspension where appropriate.

“We develop a return-to-work strategy on a case-by-case basis. Where consequence management is recommended, proper procedure will be followed.”