KwaZulu-Natal health minister Peggy Nkonyeni on Thursday denied media reports that the department’s head, Professor Ronald Green-Thompson, had been fired.
Her statement came after provincial newspapers and the South African Broadcasting Corporation quoted Green-Thompson as saying that he had been sacked.
”I also wish to dispel the rumour that the superintendent general and I do not see eye to eye. Professor Green-Thompson has not been fired. I have not fired him.
”Professor Green-Thompson and I have worked together very well over the past year,” said Nkonyeni.
In a statement released by the premier’s office, Green-Thompson was quoted as saying: ”The previous MEC, Doctor Zweli Mkhize, had already started a discussion with me, how to bring about a well-managed succession plan to avoid interrupting the essential health service in the province.
”I can also confirm that the MEC and I have a good, professional working relationship.”
He did not, however, comment on whether he had been fired or not. Green-Thompson is currently attending a three-day Cabinet lekgotla (meeting) in the Drakensberg and could not be reached for clarification.
A spokesperson for the provincial government, Thabang Chiloane, also denied that Green-Thompson had been fired.
He said there is plenty of evidence to show the amount of good work that has been done to transform the provinces’ health department into one of the leading departments in the country.
This has been done under Green-Thompson’s leadership, he said, adding: ”It is therefore not true to suggest that Professor Green-Thompson can be fired.”
Chiloane said the succession plans and discussion that started with Mkhize will continue.
The confusion around Green-Thompson’s position comes at a time when the health department faces possible legal action following the death of 22 babies in a klebsiella outbreak at the Mahatma Gandhi hospital earlier this year. — Sapa