Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane accused of favouritism in nursing manager appointment

The uMkhonto WeSizwe Party's (MKP) member of Parliament Nkosentsha Shezi has made serious allegations against Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, claiming that she improperly appointed her foreign friend, Dr Ndemera, as the acting nursing manager at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.

The claim once again raised doubts on transparency and the hiring practices at the provincial health department. Shezi's allegations centre on the claim that Simelane "handpicked" Ndemera for the role without adhering to proper recruitment protocols.

According to Shezi, the acting nursing manager position was falsely reported as having been advertised, and a suitable candidate was found.

"The fact, as she (Simelane) put it, is that the post of acting manager was advertised twice, and they couldn’t find a suitable candidate. I do not agree with the truthfulness of that report," Shezi stated, calling into question both the timeline and the methods of the hiring process.

In response, the health department labelled Shezi's comments as “hogwash,” accusing him of engaging in a malicious smear campaign against the MEC with the explicit aim of tarnishing her reputation as well as that of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.

"This campaign is based on lies that aim to discredit the MEC and the department," the department asserted in a statement.

The department maintained that the nursing manager position had indeed been advertised twice and that no suitable candidates had met the necessary equity requirements. After these unsuccessful attempts, Ndemera, a critical care specialist nurse with a PhD in Nephrology, who has been affiliated with the hospital for over eight years, was asked to take the interim position to ensure continuous service delivery.

The department indicated that Ndemera had been legally residing in South Africa for over 25 years and possessed essential language skills, speaking both fluent Zulu and Venda.

In the statement, the health department defended Simelane, stating that she had no involvement in the hiring process of Ndemera, who was not known to her prior to the allegations surfacing. The department insisted that the claims were part of an orchestrated attack on their integrity.

However, Shezi was unmoved. He cited that Ndemera's appointment as indicative of a broader issue within the health department, and alleged that she was tasked with purging South African nursing staff. "It seems that Ndemera was Simelane’s first choice. It appears she did not go through the sifting, shortlisting, or interview process that everyone else was subjected to," Shezi stated.

Shezi also made claims about misuse of hospital funds and suggested that Ndemera and her associates were squandering resources on extravagant parties.

The department vehemently denied those allegations, asserting that all hospital events were funded through declared external sponsorships and clarified that Simelane did not attend any such gatherings.

"These fabrications aim to politicise the health sector and discredit the MEC and the department. We urge the public and media not to give credence to such misinformation," the department said, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining the hospital's integrity despite ongoing financial challenges in the province.

DAILY NEWS