Ex-health MEC in court over ‘locking out’ staff

A FORMER ANC MP and health MEC has been accused of locking out nurses and patients from a kidney clinic in Mthatha.

Bevan Goqwana‚ who chaired parliamentary committees on health and science and technology‚ is embroiled in an Mthatha high court battle with dialysis provider Alugraph about what it says is a “takeover” of the clinic. Goqwana‚ a specialist physician‚ allegedly locked out nurses‚ patients and clinic director Zanele Siko.

In 2001 he was acquitted of fraud charges for allegedly running an ambulance service not registered with the Health Professions Council‚ and fired as Eastern Cape health MEC after a damning auditor-general probe said R18-billion had not been properly accounted for.

He was hauled before court last month after Siko filed an affidavit saying she founded the clinic with three others‚ and invited Goqwana to join as a director last July.

In his judgment on Tuesday‚ Acting Deputy Judge President Selby Mbenenge said: “The complaint central to the application is that [Goqwana] installed a key block to the main door of the premises‚ thus locking out Ms Siko and other nursing staff from being at the clinic and performing their duties.

“When concern for this action was raised with [Goqwana]‚ he removed the key block‚ paving the way for Ms Siko to perform her nursing duties on that day‚ but at the same time with [Goqwana] mentioning that Ms Siko was being seen there for the last time.

“When formal steps were taken to challenge the stance‚ [Goqwana] made it known that he had taken over and ‘should never see anyone of … other owners and employees of [Alugraph]’.”

Goqwana hit back‚ claiming Alugraph was not involved in running the clinic. In his court papers he said he joined the business while still an MP‚ supplying finance when no “financial institution was prepared to grant assistance”.

Goqwana denied locking out staff and patients‚ except for 10 minutes when Siko and others failed to attend a meeting about discrepancies in stocks of medication.

Mbenenge referred the matter for hearing this week‚ and Goqwana welcomed the ruling. He said his detractors were “abusing my kindness” and it had been proved he was “a sole proprietor”. — DDC