By Anita Dangazele
- The Eastern Cape health department says it is recovering R38.2-million wrongly paid to employees through overtime, grade progression and salary errors.
- Some workers have signed debt acknowledgements, but a Labour Court order has temporarily stopped the department from recovering part of the money.
The Eastern Cape health department has wrongly paid almost R40-million to former and current employees over the past four years.
The department confirmed that R38.2-million was paid to staff who were not entitled to it. The payments included commuted overtime, nodal allowances, salaries to people whose service had already ended, and grade progression for medical registrars.
Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said the department is recovering the money.
“The irregularities were picked up earlier and financial recovery was started. Some employees have signed an acknowledgement of debt and are paying the money back,” he said.
He added that fifteen registrars were paid incorrectly and have all signed debt notifications. “They were paid grade progression while still being registrars,” he said.
However, a Labour Court order has stopped the department from taking some of the money back for now.
In another case, 47 health workers were overpaid for commuted overtime. So far, 17 have paid back R1-million, while the rest still owe more than R3-million.
Nurses who received nodal allowances after moving to hospitals that do not qualify for them must also pay back the money. About R299,000 has been recovered from 65 cases, through leave payouts and court action.
The department is also chasing money paid to people who resigned or were dismissed. Manana said disciplinary steps are underway, with some workers facing hearings.
DA MPL Dr Jane Cowley called the payments “an absolute indictment” on the department, which already owes companies nearly R7-billion in unpaid bills.
Pictured above: Eastern Cape health logo.
Image source: @easterncapedoh
