31 January 2012   

The IFP has called for an urgent Commission of Enquiry to be set up to investigate the state of Gauteng's ailing Health Department.

This comes after a Congolese doctor, Nyunyi Wambuyi Katumba, falsely represented himself as a Neurosurgeon and spent four years working in Gauteng public hospitals as a specialist. In addition, the Gauteng Health Department is facing 101 legal claims due to negligence, totalling R235-million.

"It is clear that the Gauteng Department of Health is dysfunctional, in a state of crisis and failing to meet its constitutional obligation of providing basic health care to the people of Gauteng. This is a matter of great public concern and the IFP believes that an urgent Commission of Enquiry should be established to probe the extent of the disaster that is currently unfolding in Gauteng's Department of Health," said Mr Petros Sithole MP, the IFP's Chairperson in Gauteng.

Sithole said that he would approach Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane with his urgent request. "I will write to the Premier this week to request that she urgently launch a full scale investigation. In particular focus must be placed on the conduct of the MEC of Health in Gauteng, Ms Ntombi Mekgwe. In the meanwhile, the IFP calls on the Public Protector to launch her own investigation into this debacle," concluded Sithole.

Contact:
Mr Petros Sithole MP,
FP Gauteng Chairperson on 079 311 9995 or 082 743 1348.