Malamulele Onward
The Eastern Cape Health Department has shelled out R 574 026,55, for the CEO of a hospital to stay in three hotels for nearly two years.
That's according to a reply to parliamentary questions from the Democratic Alliance, following a reported petition from staff at the Zithulele Hospital in Mqanduli.
In its reply that Health Department confirmed that the CEO, Nolubabalo Fatyela, stayed at Savoy, Bluetiq, and Mayfair hotels at an average monthly cost of R36 000.
The Department said the expenditure was authorized by the district manager of the OR Tambo District of the Health Department, with the office footing the bill for Fatyela who spent 366 days in the hotels.
DA MP, Dr Karl le Roux said ultimately want this matter to be referred to the Public Service Commission for investigation of irregular and wasteful expenditure, and for disciplinary recommendations to be made and for their findings to be reported to Parliament.
“We urge the Eastern Cape Department of Health to investigate this unjustified and wasteful expenditure urgently and explain why alternative accommodation, that does not cost the state anything, such as the staff quarters at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital where the CEO has been housed for the past few months, was not arranged much earlier,” he said.
In its response, the Eastern Cape Health Department said Fatyela “had to be accommodated away from Zithulele Hospital because of threats against her”.
Spokesperson, Mkhululi Ndamse, said the Department does “everything possible” to ensure the safety of staff when they have safety concerns.
“The Department will investigate this further to establish the facts which will determine the way forward.
"We welcome every effort that is done to promote good and clean governance. We always are supportive of investigations that are meant to promote good and clean governance,” Ndamase said.
