The state of health care in the Eastern Cape under the stewardship of sacked provincial minister Bevan Goqwana had been ”deplorable”, the watchdog Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) said on Tuesday.
”The PSAM calls on the premier to urgently appoint a suitably qualified replacement who can begin to tackle the enormous challenges that face the department,” the Grahamstown-based organisation said in a media statement.
Goqwana was fired, along with economic affairs provincial minister Andre de Wet, by Premier Nosimo Balindlela on Monday.
The PSAM said Goqwana’s dismissal had been long overdue, as evidenced by the dilapidation of hospitals and other infrastructure, underperforming emergency medical services, shortages of critical medical equipment and medicine, and high staff vacancy rates.
It said that according to the Public Finance Management Act, a provincial minister should play a vital role in the efficient running of a department.
However, since 1999 the department had received five audit disclaimers, which meant that during Goqwana’s tenure it failed to properly account for R18,1-billion out of a total budget of R22,6-billion.
Another area of concern had been the department’s consistent underspending on infrastructure and maintenance.
Between 2000 and 2005 the department failed to spend 18%, or R331,24-million, of a total infrastructure and maintenance allocation of R1,75-billion.
Since 2001 the department had had an overall vacancy rate of 33% and an average 45% vacancy rate for critical senior management posts.
Balindlela has named Mbulelo Sogoni to take over from De Wet, while social development provincial minister Thokozile Xasa will temporarily take on Goqwana’s portfolio as well. — Sapa