Philippa Garson
THE director of the Alexandra Health Centre has been suspended and another employee has been fired following allegations of corruption among officials, first revealed in the Mail & Guardian.
Clinic director Nomvuyo Molefe may face criminal charges after allegedly defrauding the clinic of R50 000 by channelling funds into Chitons Consultancy, of which she and her husband were majority shareholders.
Board chairman Bernert Lekalakala said the board, which initiated the investigation, was waiting for legal advice on whether it had sufficient grounds to dismiss her, sue her for the recovery of the funds and lay criminal charges.
Meanwhile, wage clerk Mary Nxumalo has been fired after the investigation revealed she was guilty of using names of doctors no longer with the clinic to deposit money into her account. Lekalakala said it was unclear how much money Nxumalo had stolen, but he assumed it was “substantial, since it has apparently been going on for some time”.
The clinic’s board took these steps on the basis of preliminary findings of an investigation by chartered accountant Mark Chasey. His full findings are expected soon.
Lucas Letlhaku, who was suspended after leaking the corruption information to overseas donors, was found guilty of bringing the clinic’s name into disrepute at a disciplinary hearing and has been suspended on half-pay for three months.
Meanwhile, the board has appointed a four-person team to manage the health centre and stricter controls have been introduced.
The board “appealed to all staff, donors and friends of Alexandra Health Centre to continue their long- standing support. This is a difficult time for the health centre and its staff and the actions of one or two people must not be allowed to destroy what has been built up over the last 67 years.”