Gauteng Health legal head paid over R4m for staying at home

Gauteng Health MEC, Nomathemba Mokgethi has revealed that the department has paid its top legal head R4.7 million to stay at home since July 2019.

Mokgethi in a written reply to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Legislature.

GAUTENG HEALTH EMPLOYEE PAID R4 MILLION 

According to Mokgethi, Advocate Lebeloane Mpelegeng is Chief Director: Legal Services, was reportedly told to stay at home following a Public Service Commission report on her appointment that found irregularities in her transfer from the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The PSC then recommended that the department apply to the Labour Court “without delay” to set aside her transfer to the Department, reportedly. 

According to Mokgethi, the Department made the application to the Labour Court on 18 November 2020, but Mpelegeng opposed it.

A Court Registrar has also indicated that a date for the matter will only be set in 2023. 

Mokgethi said the Gauteng Health Department wants to see the matter concluded as speedily as possible, however, remains constrained by the Court’s processes which are outside the department’s control. 

In the response, Mokgethi also revealed that there is an acting person in Mpeleng’s job, and she has been paid R4 681 700 for the period 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2022.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom said the R4 million is an enormous sum of money to pay for a botched appointment and could have paid for 10 senior nurses for a year in understaffed hospitals.

Bloom said Mpeleng has a chequered history with the Gauteng Health Department as she was former Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa’s personal assistant when she was fired in January 2006 for misusing state property, but was later absolved on appeal. 

“When Ramokgopa returned as Health MEC in February 2017, she recruited Mpeleng to get her buddy back into the department. The PSC investigated Lebeloane after complaints about her high-handed management style.

“I am appalled that the department’s mismanagement has wasted so much money that should be used to provide better care for hospital patients.”

Jack Bloom

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