By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
File: Gauteng Department of Health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi .
The Gauteng Health Department confirmed it served Tembisa Hospital CEO Dr Lekopane Mogaladi with a notice to place him on precautionary suspension.
This is after a damning report by Health Ombudsman Professor Malekgapuru Makgoba which found that the facility administered sub-standard care to Shonisani Lethole – a man who died at the hospital – days after complaining about its conditions.
The ombud found that the care rendered to Lethole at Tembisa Hospital in June last year was not only substandard but negligent.
Lethole died at the hospital on June 30 after testing positive for Covid-19.
The department gave Dr Mogaladi five working days to explain why he should not be placed on suspension.
But before he died, Lethole took to social media to tell health minister Zweli Mkhize about what he said were deplorable conditions at the hospital. He also claimed he was being starved.
Mkhize lodged a complaint with the health ombudsman, Dr Malegapuru Makgoba, and an investigation was launched. Makgoba found that Lethole was not offered food for a total of 100 hours and 54 minutes.
The report sparked outrage, with many calling for Mogaladi’s head.
Health department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said the notice of suspension was served to Mogaladi on Friday.
Meanwhile the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health did conduct an oversight visit at Tembisa Tertiary Hospital this morning.
The visit follows the damning report released by the Health Ombudsman on the care and death of businessman Lethole.
The ombud also found that Mogaladi failed to report missing clinical notes to the police, as is required by law.