Johannesburg – A cold war is intensifying in the corridors of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the regulatory body of healthcare professionals.
So bad is the situation that there are allegations of mistrust and backstabbing from officials who claim that the leadership of the council is turning a blind eye to unlawful activities in the organisation.
Last Sunday, the secretary of Nehawu at the HPCSA, Nkhensane Ditshego wrote to the president of the regulatory body Professor Simon Nemutandani to lay a complaint against HPCSA ombudsman and acting registrar Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda. Ditshego alleged that Kwinda and one of the top officials in the HPCSA council, Prof Nobelungu Julia Ngoloyi- Mekwa, are the owners of the company that charges regulatory body members a fee to provide continuing professional development activities in the healthcare sector.
[membership level=”1″]
In the letter that Sunday World has seen, Ditshego alleges that Kwinda and Ngoloyi- Mekwa had broken their oath of offices by doing business with the HPCSA through their private company. Sunday World has verified that Kwinda and Ngoloyi-Mekwa are the directors of the South African Institute of Healthcare Managers, a private entity that charges HPCSA members a fee for services rendered.
“We have learnt that Dr Kwinda may be a co-director with Prof Nobelungu Mekwa in a company called South African Institute of Healthcare Managers, a company that provides CPD activities to health practitioners registered with the HPCSA for a fee. If this is true, then Dr Kwinda has committed misconduct in that he draws a salary from the HPCSA and a fee from health practitioners registered with the HPCSA,” said Ditshego in the letter. She also alleged Kwinda had recruited and interviewed Dr Jabulile Dlamini for the position of ombudsman, while he was acting as HPCSA registrar and CEO.
Kwinda was appointed acting CEO after the suspension, reinstatement and another suspension of registrar and CEO Dr David Motau last month on charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act. The charges relate to a long-standing investigation by the Hawks into irregularities stemming from the Health Department, which Motau had headed since 2013 in Free State. Motau remains suspended.
Speaking to Sunday World on Friday, Ditshego said that the HPCSA and its leadership under Nemutandani was toxic and its mission was to frustrate employees and operations.
“We have not received any response from Professor Nemutandani and the council since we have lodged a complaint in July, hence we have sent the second letter. There are people here who think that they are untouchable as they enjoy protection from the top, and we cannot tolerate such,” said Ditshego.
Responding to Sunday World, the HPCSA spokesperson, Christopher Tsatsawane, said the organisation had received two letters from Ditshego and said the allegations made against Kwinda were concerning.
“We would like to allow a proper investigation on the matter to establish facts from mere allegations. Council needed time to engage on the contents of the letter received from Ditshego. “Council has appointed a team to investigate this matter in line with the provisions of the council charter. Council is concerned about the allegations made against Prof Nobelungu [Ngoloyi-Mekwa], hence this matter is being investigated.”
To read more political news and views from this week’s newspaper, click here.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World
[/membership] [pmpro_signup submit_button=”Register” level=”1″ login=”1″ redirect=”referrer” short=”false” title=”Register to view Exclusive Content” short=”true” custom_fields=”true”]
