The Star writes that the gloves are off between suspended Tembisa Hospital chief executive Dr Lekopane Mogaladi and the Gauteng Department of Health (DOH).  

Apparently, Mogaladi has exercised his legal right to challenge the department's intention to place him under suspension.  His suspension came as a result of Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba’s damning report of Shonisani Lethole’s death, which implicated him.  Lethole set tongues wagging after he tweeted Health Minister Zweli Mkhize about being denied food at the hospital.  He then died at the hospital on 30 June after testing positive for Covid-19. Makgoba found that the 34-year-old hadn’t been fed for a total of 100 hours.  After the report was released, the DOH advised that it had no intention of challenging the findings into the circumstances surrounding Lethole’s death.  The DOH then implemented the Ombud’s recommendations and issued Mogaladi with a notice of intention to place him under precautionary suspension.  Mogaladi is believed to have made written representations to the DOH outlining why there was no rational cause for disciplinary action to be taken against him.  However, the DOH apparently proceeded to serve him with the notice of suspension.  According to Mogaladi’s legal team, the findings of the report should be set aside.  “Dr Mogaladi remains resolute in his mission to set the record straight by upholding the truth through legal channels,” it indicated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gift Tlou at The Star

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