Although the officials have yet to be found guilty, we applaud the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, located near Ga-Rankuwa north of Pretoria, for taking this bold step, which will send out a clear message that such activity will not be condoned. For this, the Gauteng health department, under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls, is our hero for the week – and our first for 2014.
According to the story as reported in the media, the officials, who worked in different sections of the hospital, are accused of appointing their friends and family to positions at Mukhari Academic, and of selling jobs to others.
Gauteng health MEC Hope Papo said that this is a contravention of the hospital's recruitment procedures.
"The department will not tolerate any form of misconduct by any staff member and those who are found to have been involved in this scam will be dealt with accordingly," he added.
Papo urged anybody who comes across officials who ask for money in return for a job, to report such behaviour, thus becoming a corruption fighter. It’s an accepted fact that the battle to root out corruption in the public and private sectors can only succeed when the general public gets involved.
"Those who are found guilty of these acts will be kicked out of the system and if they are also found to be criminally liable for their actions, the law must take its course," said Papo.
