KH CEO quits
THE CEO of Kimberley Hospital Gordon Moncho has resigned following a prolonged labour dispute that was lodged between him and the Department of Health.
Moncho was reinstated this year, after being suspended with full pay since 2015 along with other senior officials after they were implicated in anti-fraud and corruption unit that was set up by the former MEC for Health Mac Jack.
Moncho had referred his dispute to the Labour Court last year as he believed that he was being subjected to an unfair disciplinary hearing.
“Labour procedures were not followed in terms of notice of suspension, laying of formal charges and fairness of the adjudicator. Even if I win my case, I have no intentions of remaining at a place where I am not welcome. I submitted my 24 hour notice resignation, that was rejected and I was advised to attend a disciplinary hearing on Monday. I then served the department with four weeks notice.”
He explained that the charges were linked to the procurement of the Curomed Hospital and the refurbishment of the casualty unit at Kimberley Hospital.
“I cost the department over R1,4 million while I sat at home for more than a year, where I was charged on fabricated charges. Not only was I praised by the former Public Pro- tector Advocate Thuli Madonsela but I also received the Premier’s excellence awards.”
Moncho indicated that since his suspension, 32 specialists resigned from Kimberley Hospital, including the Province’s only neurosurgeon and radiologists.
“I worked very hard to convince these scarce skills specialists to come to the Province. They all left because they were not receiving the necessary support to execute their duties.”
He believed that a political decision was taken to boot him out of the department.
“I have served the Department of Health with integrity for 27 years. I refused to be bulldozed into making the wrong decisions and into awarding irregular tenders.”
Spokesman for the MEC for Health Lebogang Majaha said they were prohibited from divulging any information regarding the employees.
“Such information has the potential to cause damage to the reputation of an individual or organisation and may give grounds to sue for defamation of character.”
He pointed out that it was “not sinister” for anyone to resign from their workplace.
“On the side of government, internal processes were followed.
“Upon submission of a resignation letter, the employee is obliged to give one full calendar month’s notice to process the necessary arrangements.”