Gauteng Health HOD suspended: ‘He was an inappropriate appointment’ - analyst

Gauteng Department of Health head of department (HOD) Lesiba Malotana has been placed on suspension after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed widespread corruption in the department.

They revealed an alleged procurement syndicate operating with Gauteng health structures, responsible for siphoning more than R2billion from Tembisa hospital.

Whistleblower Babita Deokaran was murdered while attempting to expose the corruption at this hospital.

Dr Darion Barclay will replace Malotana as acting HOD while she is on suspension.

Professor Alex van den Heever from the Wits School of Governance says the exact reasoning behind the suspension is unclear, but argues that he was an “inappropriate appointment in the first place.”

“He could have been fired for any number of reasons, let alone just suspended,”he continues.

He adds that the SIU investigation likely made it impossible to keep Malotana in his role.

To listen to Professor Alex van den Heever from the Wits School of Governance in conversation with John Perlman on 702’s Afternoon Drive, click the audio player for more: