By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng DA Shadow MEC of Health Jack Bloom has denounced the R4.7 million paid to suspended Gauteng Department of Health head of legal services, advocate Mpelegeng Lebeloane.
Bloom said the millions spent on the legal head just to sit at home could instead be used to pay 10 senior nurses for a year.
Lebeloane has been off work following a Public Service Commission (PSC) report on her appointment found irregularities in her transfer from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
In written replies to the Gauteng legislature, Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi confirmed Lebeloane was paid millions.
She was paid R4 681 700 between 1 July 2019 and 30 September 2022.
While Lebeloane is at home, Carel van der Heerden is currently acting in the position.
The PSC recommended the health department apply to the Labour Court “without delay” to set aside Lebeloane’s transfer to the department.
The department made the application to the Labour Court on 18 November 2020, but Lebeloane opposed it.
In her responses, Mokgethi said the department went to court again in July and was informed by the registrar that “the matters that are being allocated now are for the year 2023”.
“The department wants to see the matter concluded as speedily as possible; however, it remains constrained by the court’s processes which are outside the department’s control.”
Lebeloane was former health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa’s personal assistant when she was fired in January 2006 for misusing state property but was later absolved on appeal.
When Ramokgopa returned as health MEC in February 2017, she recruited Lebeloane back into the department as chief of staff. She was appointed as a chief director for legal services in March 2018.