PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
13 November 2020
NUPSAW VICTORIOUS AGAINST CORRUPTION AS FAR EAST RAND HOSPITAL (FERH) CEO IS DISMISSED FOLLOWING HIS PENDING SIU INVESTIGATION
The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) is excited to announce that following our lunch-hour picket on Thursday, 12 November 2020 outside the Far East Rand Hospital (FERH) the CEO, Dr Z. Mathaba has been officially dismissed from his position with immediate effect.
This follows reports of mismanagement and corruption at Far East Rand Hospital (FERH) in Ekurhuleni, after some company had submitted the lowest quote of R139 126.25 during the bidding phase. However, last month the company said it had under-quoted in June, and revised its price with a new invoice of R404190, which was approved on July 1 by the hospital’s chief executive, Dr Zacharia Mathaba.
In July 2020, NUPSAW members reported him for COVID-19 related corruption and his case is currently under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). He is also a subject of an investigation by the Gauteng Department of Health concerning his appointment as CEO of Far East Rand while still undergoing disciplinary action for gross dishonesty. This was after he supposedly claimed overtime he allegedly did not do between September 1 2017 to 2018 year as well as from April 1 2018 to March 31 2019.This case highlighted the Department’s poor selection and disciplinary procedures as Mathaba should never have been appointed as the hospital CEO while facing such serious charges, and his disciplinary case should not be dragging on for so long.
This is a victory for NUPSAW and our members at FERH. Victories in the fight against corruption is a record of many of the achievements of our members. While there is still much work to be done, these stories serve as reminders that together we can fight the scourge of corruption and make the world a better place for generations to come.
For more information:
Kagiso Makoe
NUPSAW Media Officer
012 342 1674
083 712 1614
Solly Malema
NUPSAW National Organiser
012 342 1674
082 323 2958