The Gauteng Health Department continued paying Cuban doctors their salaries even after they left the country after coming to the country in 2021 to help fight Covid-19. This was confirmed by MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko when responding to questions by DA Health shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom. Ralehoko revealed that R3.9 million was paid to seven Cuban doctors who had left the country to go back to Cuba.

IRREGULAR EXTENSION 

In 2021, 28 Cuban doctors were hired on a one-year contract to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic but seven contracts were irregularly extended for another year. Instead of their contracts terminating on 14 May 2022, they continued to receive salaries without working until May 2022. According to the MEC, "The officials who extended the contracts allege to have not been aware that the Cuban healthcare workers were no longer in the country." This oversight was been flagged by the Auditor General as material irregularity.

INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY

Bloom said an investigation has led to the recovery of R1.2 million and disciplinary charges have been laid against the responsible officials. "The Cuban government has also been contacted to recover the outstanding money. It boggles the mind that seven foreign doctors were paid for an entire year when they were not even in the country. It is also outrageous that R2.7 million is still not recovered more than two years after this wasteful expenditur and the officials concerned have not yet been disciplined. It's yet another example of deep incompetence and possible corruption in this department, "said Bloom. Bloom said the DA in Gauteng believes there is no reason to hire Cuban doctors when so many local doctors are unemployed. "Priority should always be the best use of the available budget to provide quality healthcare."