Last Thursday, the Eastern Cape Legislature unanimously adopted my Motion Without Notice, summoning the Eastern Cape MEC for Health, Hon Ntandokazi Capa, and her Head of Department, Dr Rolene Wagner, to appear before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).
They must account for their decision to deliberately defy a national directive issued by the Director-General of Health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, which instructed that no province should interfere with doctors’ commuted overtime until a national review has been completed.
The Motion further called for the Director-General to launch a full investigation into their wilful disregard for his directive.
This action follows complaints from medical facilities that, despite critical doctor shortages, the HOD reduced commuted overtime from 16 hours to 12 hours per month. It is alleged that this reduction was applied selectively, targeting certain facilities while sparing others.
At a time when our provincial health department faces devastating surgical backlogs, and doctors are working tirelessly to hold the system together, the MEC and HOD have recklessly undermined national authority. Instead of targeting doctors abusing the overtime system, they have chosen to punish those striving to meet patients’ needs, with the inevitable result that even fewer patients will now be treated. The consequences for patient care are severe.
Furthermore, the alleged selective targeting of certain facilities suggests a gross misuse of power, clear favouritism, and protectionism. Such conduct from officials who are sworn to uphold the principles of Batho Pele is utterly disgraceful. Accountability must be swift, and the consequences must be severe.
The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight for the reinstatement of the original national commuted overtime hours until the national review is finalised. We will also continue to defend the rights of dedicated doctors who, every day, honour the Hippocratic Oath and treat their patients with dignity. Those who do not must be rooted out.
Our doctors and patients deserve to live lives of dignity. Rogue and defiant behaviour by those entrusted with leadership must be met with decisive action.