Kamogelo Olaitan
Limpopo provincial health department head Dr Thokozani Mhlongo has resigned after being implicated in the personal protective equipment (PPE) tender scandal that gripped the country last year.
This is a month before premier Stan Mathabatha could take disciplinary action against her, as recommended by the public protector.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) also laid criminal charges against her and the department’s chief financial officer Justice Mudau for their role in the PPE tender, worth R125-million.
In April, the public protector published a report on allegations of maladministration and procurement irregularities in the awarding of tenders by the provincial department of health.
The public protector also found that Mhlongo flouted several provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
She reportedly failed to ensure there was an appropriate procurement and provisioning system that was fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
After the findings, the public protector said the premier must, within 90 working days of receipt of the report dated 29 April, take disciplinary action against Mhlongo for contravening sections of the PFMA.
Premier Mathabatha promised to take action against those implicated. But it is not clear if any action was taken against Mhlongo before her resignation. The deadline for the premier to take action against Mhlongo is 29 July.
In a statement on Friday, Mathabatha said he had accepted Mhlongo’s resignation.
“The premier has received and accepted the resignation of the head of Department of Health, Dr Thokozani Mhlongo, with immediate effect. The premier has thanked Dr Mhlongo and wished her well in her future endeavours,” the statement said.
