The Democratic Alliance has expressed concern over officials that were suspended and reinstated before disciplinary conclusion for the R500 million AngloGold Ashanti Hospital debacle.

FROM 50 MILLION TO R500 MILLION

The hospital situated in Carltonville was donated by the mining conglomerate during Covid-19 and the officials in question were suspended following allegations of irregularities in the awarding of contracts related to the refurbishment of the Hospital.

DA Gauteng Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), Alan Fuchs, said the recent decision by the Gauteng Health Department to reinstate senior officials who were suspended in connection with the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital refurbishment debacle is of great concern and is inexplicable.

Initially budgeted at R50 million, the project's costs ballooned to a shocking R500 million, with the facility ultimately deemed unusable and abandoned.

"These officials, who spent an astounding 33 months at home on full pay while facing allegations of irregularly appointing contractors, are being brought back into their roles before the final decision of the disciplinary hearing has been presented. This decision undermines accountability and good governance in the Gauteng provincial government,"said Fuchs.

He added that with the department reinstating individuals whose ethics and actions were under scrutiny, it has sent a troubling message that due process and ethical considerations are overlooked.

CONTRADICTIONS

Fuchs said what's more confusing is the contradictory stance taken by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID).

"Unlike Health, the Infrastructure Department has firmly stated that its suspended officials will not return to work, citing statutory restrictions.This inconsistency between the Health and Infrastructure departments highlights the subjectiveness of this decision and undermines public confidence in the administration's ability to manage such matters equitably."