Health dept stabilising after Digital Vibes suspensions - Phaahla

This follows the suspension of seven officials implicated in the Digital Vibes saga.

The officials involve the department’s director-general, Sandile Buthelezi. 

Phaahla told the committee they are bringing some officials from provincial departments back to national.

"I have already approached the minister of Cogta to say the DDG in the Northwest who has been there for more than two years and has handed over her report and next week we will discuss bringing her, Mrs Janet Hunter back to national office," he said.

"We have also looked at other entities of the department and divisions where we can pull in people, shift them, and ensure they focus on urgent functions such as the management of covid-19 to ensure our health platform is stabilised. Even though the covid-19 numbers are down, we expect a resurgence in December," said Phaahla.  

Phaahla said there have been vacancies in the department before these suspensions and they are working to fill those two.

Democratic Alliance MP, Siviwe Gwarube said the committee failed to do proper oversight over the scandal.

"A couple of months ago a number of people in this committee said it was absolutely critical that the former minister of health and the senior management of the department be summoned here to answer questions about this matter. We must take accountability where we have erred, members of this committee especially members of the ruling party shielded the former minister from accountability, and now with the publication of the report it is clear to us that we because of the majority held by the ruling party we failed as a committee in our duties," she said.

Gwarube said members of the ANC must hang their heads in shame as they failed South Africans. 

Phaahla said they want to deal with the disciplinary and consequence management process speedily and decisively; however, they must follow labour relations guidelines. 

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