Opposing factions take to the streets
WO factions have squared off at Northdale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg – one supporting the current chief executive, who has been accused of religious intolerance, and the other supporting the nurse whose holy belongings were removed from her personal cupboard.
An investigation was launched by the KwaZuluNatal Department of Health in February, after hospital boss Buhle Maphanga had allegedly accused nursing sister Romilla Ramaan of witchcraft.
This was after Maphanga and seven hospital board members allegedly ordered Ramaan to remove a box that contained an incense stick, a framed photograph of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and a statue of Hindu deity Lord Muruga. This deeply affected the Sai Baba devotee, who had to seek counselling.
Although the investigation has been finalised, department spokesperson, Sam Mkhwanazi, declined to reveal the outcome.
But, according to the provincial secretary of the trade union Hospersa, whose members protested outside the hospital recently, Maphanga remains at the helm.
“Two months later and we have still not heard what the COMPETING with some of the country’s finest accounting students was summa cum laude graduate Jyoti Maharaj, pictured, who has been ranked second in the Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Initial Test of Competence (ITC).
Maharaj said modestly: “I did not think I would come second as I was competing with outcome of their investigation is,” said Popson Kunene, Hospersa’s provincial secretary.
“The nurse in question, Sister Romilla Ramaan, was at the protest. The situation has not been resolved,” he said.
He said Ramaan’s box of religious items had been in her personal locker and were not on display when she was told to remove them.
“She feels violated. On top of that, she was accused of witchcraft. The chief executive is still at the hospital and there are major issues we have with her in terms of management the best students from around the country. The thought that I could be in the top 10 had crossed my mind before I wrote ITC, but I thought I was being silly.”
ITC is a standard-setting examination written after the completion of an accredited certificate in the theory of accounting programme and needs to be completed on the journey towards becoming a and service delivery.
“What we want is to see the chief executive removed and if we do not get a response from the Department of Health or from hospital management, we are going to involve the community and we are going to petition to have her removed.”
Union members handed over a memorandum of demands to hospital management.
This included wanting to know why they were not informed about the outcome of the internal investigation.
After the Hospersa protest, a second group of protesters chartered accountant. Maharaj has academic accomplishments under her belt including being recognised as the province’s top matric pupil and the top female pupil in mathematics and physical science in 2012.
The young achiever believes hard work, preparation, being goal-oriented and staying positive are the key to her success.
“Most of my preparation was done during my studies at – members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) – showed their support for the chief executive and called for Ramaan to be removed.
Nehawu’s provincial chairperson, Skhumbuzo Mdlalose, said: “This is a public place where there are patients. One cannot be burning agarbatti (incense sticks).”
The Denosa regional chairperson, Jerome Zwane, added: “The hospital management was very relaxed and Maphanga has changed the status quo. This is just an attack on that.”
Ramaan, who has not reported for duty since the incident, which occurred at the end of January, said she feared being charged for speaking to the media.
Mkhwanazi said: “An internal investigation was conducted, concluded and the outcome was communicated internally, between the concerned parties.
“If any individual is found guilty of contravening another’s constitutional rights, they will be subject to the most appropriate sanction allowed by law.”
The acting district manager at the hospital, Mark Green, said they would respond to Hospersa’s requests in due course. UKZN,” she said. “I am so grateful for the hard work my lecturers put into the programme.”
Maharaj, who is serving her articles at Deloitte, plans on qualifying as a chartered accountant.