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The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union in the Eastern Cape had called for Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba to “be relieved” of her duties.
This, after Gomba and 14 others, including former top Buffalo City officials, businesspeople and companies, appeared in court on Friday on charges of fraud and money-laundering.
This relates to the alleged misappropriation of around R6 million earmarked for the 2013 funeral of late former President, Nelson Mandela.
Nehawu said in a statement on Saturday, that it noted the statement by the Premier Lubabalo Mabuyane, who said a decision on Gomba’s future would be announced soon.
However, union spokesperson, Khaya Xaba, said it believed that the Premier did not take the charges against the MEC seriously enough.
“We strongly believe that the MEC should be relieved of her duties with immediate effect,” he said.
Xaba said the people of the Eastern Cape cannot have an MEC who is facing such heavy charges while she is also expected to lead the provincial Department of Health especially at a time when we are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even before facing these charges, the MEC was not really doing an exceptional job so we believe these charges will split her attention and this will further disadvantage our people who require medical attention and our members and workers who work in healthcare institutions.”
Gomba and her co-accused were granted bail of R1000 and are due back in court again on 5 March.
