City Press reports that the national Department of Health (DOH) has recommended that its suspended spokesperson Popo Maja and deputy director-general of health regulation and compliance Anban Pillay be demoted from their posts for a year.

This follows a disciplinary process that probed their roles in the R150 million Digital Vibes communications contract that sunk former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Last Friday, the department, in a letter through the office of the State Attorney, informed the chairperson of the hearing, Advocate Pule Seleka SC, that the department had agreed with Pillay and Maja being sanctioned with “suitable alternatives, short of dismissal”. Seleka is expected to confirm the sanctions as a ruling. “Pillay will be demoted from deputy director-general to chief director responsible for overseeing state entities that fall within the national department of health and incidental responsibilities that will be communicated to him from time to time. The aforesaid demotion will ensue for 12 months from the date of his return from suspension,” State Attorney Sindi Gejengane indicated. She added: “Maja will be demoted from chief director to director for a period of 12 months from the date of outcome of the chairperson on sanction. Maja’s duties and responsibilities as director will be communicated to him by the director-general of the national department of health from time to time.” Maja will no longer be the spokesperson for the department. The recommendations of the department also advised that the official who had signed the Digital Vibes agreement, Shireen Pardesi, had already received an agreed sanction.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone at City Press (subscriber access only)

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