Ex-MP accused of clinic ‘coup’
A FORMER ANC MP has been accused of locking out nurses and patients at a kidney clinic.
Bevan Goqwana‚ who chaired parliamentary committees on health and science and technology‚ is embroiled in an Mthatha High Court battle with dialysis provider Alugraph over what it alleges is a takeover of the clinic.
Goqwana‚ a specialist physician, allegedly locked out nurses‚ patients and clinic director Zanele Siko.
He is no stranger to controversy, having been acquitted of fraud charges in 2001 for allegedly running an ambulance service not registered with the Health Professions Council.
He was fired as Eastern Cape health MEC after a damning auditor-general probe said R18-billion had not been properly accounted for.
Goqwana was hauled before court last month after Siko filed an affidavit saying that she had founded the clinic with three others and had invited Goqwana to join as a director in July last year.
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 at 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.”
In court papers‚ Goqwana said he had joined the business while he was still an MP‚ supplying finance when no financial institution was prepared to grant assistance. He denied locking out staff and patients‚ except for 10 minutes when Siko and others failed to attend a meeting.
Mbenenge referred the matter for hearing this week.