News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has dismissed claims by Democratic Alliance (DA) health spokesperson Jack Bloom that suspended Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi was appointed while facing a charge of misconduct.

On Wednesday, the department said Bloom's claim was a "deliberate distortion of facts" and that Mthunzi had not signed a final written warning in September 2021. On Monday, Bloom said the charge emanated from Mthunzi's previous position as CEO of Pholosong Hospital. He cited a recent written response from Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi to a question he filed in the Gauteng legislature. In her response, Mokgethi said the head of the department, Dr Sibongile Zungu, had approved recommendations for disciplinary action against Mthunzi for contravening the recruitment and selection policy and that the Labour Relations Directorate would implement the recommendations. Bloom said this response contradicted Mokgethi's answer to the same question filed in June. Mokgethi had denied that Mthunzi was unfit to hold the position because of the charge, said Bloom. "The important issue is that Mthunzi should never have been appointed,” said Bloom because, according to Mokgethi, the selection committee did not have knowledge or information on Mthunzi's pending disciplinary hearing while at Pholosong Hospital.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Bhengu at News24
• Read too, ‘Hijacked' nurses' union sides with embattled Tembisa Hospital boss, at News24 (subscriber access only)

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