Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in GaRankuwa, north of Pretoria, suspended 17 senior managers implicated in the sale of jobs for amounts ranging between R2,500 and R3,500.
The managers are also accused of employing their children and relatives who are not qualified. One of them allegedly employed 12 relatives and one of his children.
"The majority of people who purchased jobs came from Limpopo. Local people were ignored because they couldn't afford to pay the amounts demanded," claimed a person close to the investigation.
Sources at the hospital said some people who had paid for jobs but had not been placed had complained to the hospital authorities but nothing was done.
The suspensions were effected last week after employees handed in a memorandum of allegations to authorities.
Hospital spokesman Nolo Bashe said the managers had been placed on precautionary suspension to allow for investigations. "We can only comment after the preliminary investigations by the chief directorate of risk from the provincial office," she said.
Sowetan has learnt that the 17 suspended people include a director, a deputy director of patient administration, a logistics deputy director, deputy director for the facility management unit, laundry manager and an assistant director of quality assurance.
A 35-year-old visually impaired mother of three with switchboard operator qualifications said she responded to an advert in August last year.
"I submitted my application personally. I was told I was the only disabled person to apply for one of the three vacant posts and that my chances of getting the job were good."
She said she last heard from the human resources staff the day she handed in her application. She was surprised to learn from other people that the interviews were conducted in December but she was never asked to attend. "I lodged a complaint and was sent from pillar to post," she said.
In a statement, Gauteng health MEC Hope Papo commended the management of the hospital for their swift action upon receiving the complaints.
"Those who are found guilty of these acts will be kicked out of the system and if they are found to be criminally liable, charges will be laid. The law must take its course," he said.
Source: Sowetan via I-Net Bridge
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