Health dept set for reshuffle

THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Health will today announce the names of officials who will be internally reshuffled as part of a turnaround strategy.

Spokesperson for the MEC for Health, Lebogang Majaha, said that the intention was to strengthen health care administration and management.

“This should not be regarded as purging of any official,” Majaha added.

He also indicated that the reshuffle would not affect the position of the HOD for Health, Stephen Jonkers, who was was appointed by the premier.

Majaha added that staff members who were part of the interdepartmental transfer implemented with the Department of Social Development, which was done to strengthen the administration of the Department of Health, had returned to their respective departments.

“This move was implemented by the executive council resolution to strengthen the department through interdepartmental transfers that saw the exchange of staff under the auspices of the Office of the Premier in 2016.

“The chief financial officer, Daniel Gaborone, who was transferred temporarily to the Department of Social Development has been transferred back to the Department of Health by the premier.”

Majaha stated that processes still needed to unfold to fill a number of vacancies at the department, including the position of chief executive officer of Kimberley Hospital, where Dr Richard Jones has been acting since 2016.

“The MEC decided to overhaul the management of the department in an attempt to improve efficiencies and managerial capabilities. This reorganisation process will continue until such time that the executing authority is convinced that the department is responsive to the health care needs of the Northern Cape community.”