She has been moved to the district office in what the Gauteng Health Department says is a precautionary measure.
“The CEO is allegedly implicated in a case of misconduct. The issues surrounding the case must still be verified and a determination will be made accordingly.”
Makabedi Makhetha will be acting in Mabyana’s position.
“There is a need to urgently resolve the broader challenges at Bheki Mlangeni Hospital and restore the confidence of the community in the facility’s capacity to continue providing much needed healthcare services,” says acting Gauteng Heath MEC, Jacob Mamabolo.
Patient safety concerns were also raised at the health facility this week following rape allegations.
“The department will appoint an independent investigator to help finalise the matter following an internal preliminary report. The matter has also been referred to the South African Police Services (SAPS) to investigate.”
The DA’s Jack Bloom has welcomed Mabyana’s transfer, saying she shouldn’t return to the hospital.
Earlier this month, Soweto residents and members of the Independent Liberation and Allied Workers’ Union also took to the streets, calling for the removal of the health facility’s management. Corruption was among the accusations the residents levelled against the hospital’s leadership.
Gauteng Health says it has asked the police to investigate the claims.
The matter was brought into the spotlight by DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, on Monday – saying workers at the health facility were worried that the incident could be swept under the carpet.
A male patient is said to have sexually assaulted a 16-year-old fellow healthcare user at the facility – raising concerns over safety.
“I want to reassure members of the public that the issue of safety at our public health facilities is a priority. We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to strengthen preventative and response measures,” says acting Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo, in a statement.
The Department says the rape survivor is receiving medical and psychological support. His family has also been counselled.
Bloom has said the rape is the 11th violent incident at the hospital.
Another patient was killed in May by a fellow patient.
MEDIA STATEMENT || INVESTIGATION INTO RAPE INCIDENT AT BHEKI MLANGENI DISTRICT HOSPITAL UNDERWAY. pic.twitter.com/B8Yg3FOUyM
A man has allegedly been raped at Bheki Mlangeni Psychiatric Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg.
“It appears that a male psychiatric patient at Bheki Mlangeni raped another male patient, who was then taken to the Nthabiseng Rape Centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital,” says DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, in a statement.
Bloom says this is the 11th” violent incident at Bheki Mlangeni this year alone.
He is calling for the sacking of the hospital CEO, Ruth Mabyana, who was reinstated in August after a precautionary leave over a fatal stabbing incident at the health facility.
“In my view, Mabyana is the worst hospital CEO in Gauteng and should have been removed long ago after scandals that include a string of violent assaults on patients and staff as well as a jobs-for-sale racket. It is not forgivable that yet another assault has occurred on a patient at this hospital. Effective steps should have been taken to ensure that mental health patients are only admitted to a dedicated high security ward,” he says.
He adds that: “New management is needed urgently at the hospital to ensure that patients and staff are in a secure environment without threat of violence.”
Gauteng Health says Acting MEC Jacob Mamabolo has dispatched a team to Bheki Mlangeni Hospital to investigate the latest claims.
“A statement will be issued later today once a preliminary report is compiled,” says the department.
Members of the Independent Liberation and Allied Workers’ Union (Ilawu) and Soweto community members took to the streets today, threatening to shut down Bheki Mlangeni Hospital.
They are accusing the hospital’s labour relations officer of corruption and nepotism.
They want the immediate removal of the facility’s human resources management and its CEO.
The Soweto community says it wants fair employment and economic opportunities.
Police were at the scene to monitor the situation.
One SAPS communications official, who says he was there just to observe, has told Local Voices that the community handed over its list of demands and dispersed peacefully.
Local Voices has requested a response from acting Gauteng Health MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, to the community’s call.
