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Controversial health head quits
09/03/2008 22:24 - (SA)
Sydney Masinga
Nelspruit - The controversial head of Mpumalanga's Health Department, Dr Confidence Moloko, has resigned.
His resignation, which was handed to Premier Thabang Makwetla this week, takes effect on April 1, said provincial government spokesperson Lebona Mosia.
"We have to make it clear that Dr Moloko was not fired or pushed. He resigned for his own reasons," said Mosia.
Moloko was appointed in April 2006 and, during his time, scores of health-care workers, including doctors, resigned in protest, accusing him of bad management.
This included failing to pay staff for overtime, failing to fill vacancies in hospitals, failing to consult before taking decisions on behalf of hospitals and clinics.
He also was accused of allowing after-hours emergency services to be cut at some hospitals and of monopolising power.
Dr Skhumbuzo Ngwenya, who resigned from Embhuleni Hospital last year, said: "I am very glad that he is going. At least, the province might see doctors and nurses returning to work in the public hospitals. I might also consider coming back."
The province has only 700 government doctors, when it needs 9 000.
Mpumalanga Democratic Alliance's Anthony Benadie was shocked to learn of Moloko's resignation on Friday.
"I am very shocked, I didn't know about this. I did not think he would go, not so soon," said Benadie.
Verachia tipped to regain post
He predicted that former head of the Health Department, Hussein Verachia, would replace Moloko when he left.
"Verachia is (health MEC William) Lubisi's man," he said.
Verachia served under Lubisi in 2004 before being replaced by Moloko when Pogisho Phasha replaced Lubisi as MEC in 2005.
Lubisi returned as health MEC in February last year when Premier Thabang Makwetla reshuffled his cabinet.
Moloko was not available for comment on Friday as his cellphone was off.
Spokesperson for the provincial health department Mpho Gabashane was unaware of Moloko's resignation on Friday and said he could not comment.
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