By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla on Friday announced the appointment of Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena as the new health ombud.
Mokoena succeeds Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, whose term came to an end on 31 May 2023.
“It is my pleasure to announce that Professor Makgoba will be succeeded by Emeritus Professor Taole Resetselemang Mokoena with effect from the 1st of June 2023,” said Dr. Phaahla
“Professor Mokoena is one of the most outstanding South African medical scholars who has transcended the globe to show the quality of the South Africans’ academic prowess.
“He is a medical graduate of the University of Natal, a D.Phil graduate of the University of Oxford, and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.”
Professor Mokoena recently retired as a Professor and Academic Head of the Department of Surgery, Chief Surgeon of the Department of General Surgery at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
Dr Phaahla thanked Professor Makgoba for his “stellar job during his tenure”.
“Professor Makgoba, since assuming office, has displayed his patriotism and commitment to the creation of an improved healthcare service in the country, by impartially and with no favour or prejudice, investigating complaints brought to his office and made recommendations that are invaluable to the health system in the country.”
“Some of the major investigations conducted under his leadership include Life Esidimeni, involving mental health patients, Tembisa Hospital and the recent Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, which bear testimony to the intent to want to assist the government and the public to build the durable health system,” Phaala said.
Mokoena said he aims to improve the state of health care in the country despite economic challenges during his tenure as the health ombud.
“I hope that we are going to elevate his (Makgoba) work to a higher level. Indeed the office of the ombud is a big challenge for a variety of reasons, the least of which is not the difficulties the healthcare system is undergoing currently.”
The health ombud is an independent body established in terms of the National Health Amendment Act of 2013.
The ombud is responsible for protecting and promoting the health and safety of users of health services by considering, investigating, and disposing of complaints in the national health system relating to non-compliance with prescribed norms and standards.
The health ombud is appointed on a non-renewable term of seven years.
The mandate of the OHSC includes, among others, the responsibility to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the Health Ombud.