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E45 000 down the drain

09/06/2012 00:00:00 Sabelo Masimula

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SCHOEMANSDAAL, SOUTH AFRICA - A Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital orderly continues to enjoy his full salary despite not reporting for work for over a year. He last reported for work in February last year.

At the time, he was paid E3 516.17 a month, which calculates to E45 710.21which he has enjoyed despite not working.

Siboniso Sibiya has since relocated to Schoemansdaal, South Africa, but comes into the country every month end to draw his salary. This is after fetching his salary advice slip at the hospital.

Relating how he is paid for nothing, Sibiya alleged that it was after he received instruction from the Hospital Administrator, Fikile Bulunga, never to set foot there again.

He said prior to being given the instruction he had been arrested for assault after he had an argument with his wife which culminated in a fight.

"My wife reported me to the police for assault and I was arrested. I couldn’t report for work for about a week as a result of my incarceration. When I eventually reported to work, the administrator said I should not report to work ever again. She asked me to write a letter but I didn’t understand the basis of this letter.

"When I told her I don’t understand what she meant, she refused to even listen to me. Instead she told me to leave and never come back," alleged Sibiya.

He claimed to have never received a letter suspending or firing him.

"I was told to go and stay at home and is exactly what I have been doing for the past year and three months. I’m however tired of staying at home. I’m also feeling guilty that I’m still drawing my full salary without working. I just want my day in a disciplinary hearing because I was obviously wrong to be absent for a week.

"I’m even scared that I may be charged with fraud for continuing to enjoy a full salary without doing any work yet I am not the one who caused this situation," he said.

The administrator confirmed knowledge of the matter but was reluctant to comment further. Bulunga said this is a sensitive matter and it borders on her terms of reference.

She declared that it was her wish to comment on the matter but she was scared that whatever she might say might be misconstrued and end up incriminating her.

"I wish to clarify myself on the matter you are asking but I just can’t.

"Whatever I may say may be misconstrued and end up portraying me in bad light. I’m sorry but issues of ethics don’t allow me to comment on this one," said Bulunga.

She said she could only be in a position to shed some light on the matter after the ministry had given her a go ahead. She referred further questions on the matter to the ministry.

...this is abnormal - govt

MBABANE – The Ministry of Health has described Sibiniso Sibiya’s continued payment of salary as abnormal and an infringement on government financial regulations.

Acting Principal Secretary in the ministry of health, Sikelela Dlamini said the ministry was not yet aware of the matter.

He said since the matter had not yet been reported to the ministry, his office was not in a position to comment.

Dlamini however asserted that if the allegations are true, obviously there is something wrong with the operations of the facility’s administration.

"If what you are asking is the obtaining situation at the facility then there is a cause for concern on the operations of the administration.

"However, one will clarify that the matter has not been reported to the ministry. If such is really happening I can’t hide the fact that it is very abnormal and an infringement on government financial regulations," said Dlamini.

He clarified that the ministry uses what he described as decentralisation of powers. This format, according to Dlamini, gives facilities’ management teams the jurisdiction to attend and deal with such matters internally.

Adding he said time and cost effective measures are also expected from facility manage-ment when dealing with such cases.

He wondered what might have taken the management this long to finalise the case. He said the aspect that Sibiya confirms that he was absent for a week makes his case even more simple to solve.

"Government and even the private sector’s procedures are clear that one must not be absent from work for more than three days without any notice. I then don’t unders-tand what made his case go on this long without a solution.

"His is just a dismissible case. I don’t understand why it had to drag to an extent of tempering with government financial regulations. Obvio-usly there is something wrong here.

"The ministry will however await a formal report from the facility’s management team before announcing its line of action in this matter," said Dlamini.