Nawaal Deane
An elite group of black medical professionals stands to gain from the Road Accident Fund’s aggressive new positive discrimination policy.
A list dispatched from the fund to some law firms lists black professionals who
are to be contracted as part of the fund’s new policy, which has been in place
since April. The list is divided into various categories of medical and other
specialists. However, each category contains no more than four professionals or
firms.
But Kessie Naidu, chairperson of the fund, this week said the list was “incorrect” and that future panels of approved professionals would be open to
both black and white professionals. “All professionals were invited to submit
their names on a panel.”
The only occupational therapist on the circulated list is Happy Shibambo, who
has her offices in Soweto. The only “industrial surgeon” (sic) listed is a Dr
Thabane, who told the Mail & Guardian that he is a psychologist and not an industrial surgeon.
Three orthopaedic surgeons are listed. They are Sam Malebo, Mkhululi Lukhele and
Archie Matime, two of whom practise in Pretoria and one in Johannesburg. Malebo
says that the black doctors have in the past been marginalised and the “playing
fields need to be levelled”.
The two doctors listed as neurosurgeons are a Dr Mokogogong and Shafiek Parker,
who practises in Cape Town. Parker says he has been working with the fund for 10 years and the referrals to him have not been influenced by his inclusion on the
list. “This is a shift in the right direction, we need to give all professionals
an opportunity to do this work.”
Two neuro and clinical psychologists on the list are Gladys Maluleke and Senathi
Fisha.
Fisha is very excited about the new policy. “In the past the clinical psychologists could not do this work without having referrals. This policy now
gives black professionals the opportunity to specialise in this work.”
Two radiologists listed are Dr Tsatsi and Dr Mkhabele. Tsatsi says: “The policy
has not made a difference to my workload.”
Four assessors in Gauteng are also listed: Becker and Mongwe Associates, De Beer
and Sebola Associates, MJ Molelo Associates and SKW Matima Associates.