Dr. Sifiso Maseko, the secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, has resigned from his position at the Gauteng Department of Health, concluding a lengthy disciplinary process related to procurement irregularities. Maseko, who had been suspended on full pay since January 26, 2022, reportedly earned around R4.5 million while not working.
As the chief director of infrastructure development at the department, Maseko’s resignation in August 2024 came just a month after he was appointed “CEO” of the Jacob Zuma-led MK Party. Along with Maseko, Dr. Medupe Modisane (clinical manager) and Ayanda Qolohle (project manager) were also suspended for financial misconduct following a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report. While Modisane and Qolohle are undergoing disciplinary hearings, Maseko’s process has been halted due to his resignation.
Taxpayer Impact and Concerns
Democratic Alliance (DA) member Jack Bloom expressed concern over the financial burden on taxpayers caused by the prolonged suspensions. “It is disgraceful that this is dragging on for so long, costing millions of rands paying for the suspended officials. I estimate their total salaries while suspended to be about R8 million,” Bloom stated.
The issue of suspensions with full pay has increasingly become a burden on taxpayers. According to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), as of October 2023, there were 417 government officials on paid suspensions, costing over R128 million.
Disciplinary Delays
In August 2024, Gauteng health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba indicated that the disciplinary proceedings were nearing completion. However, recent inquiries regarding the status of Modisane, Qolohle, and Maseko revealed a lack of clarity in the Premier’s office. An official, Mohlalefi Lebotha, initially stated that hearings were concluded for all three, unaware of Maseko’s resignation. Upon being informed, Lebotha promised to confirm the resignation with the Gauteng Department of Health.
Ongoing SIU Investigation
The SIU’s investigation into the Gauteng health department focused on irregular procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the National State of Disaster. The investigation prompted recommendations for disciplinary and criminal action against several officials, including Maseko, for violating procurement regulations. This scrutiny also involved the controversial AngloGold Ashanti Hospital refurbishment project, which significantly exceeded its initial budget of R50 million, culminating in over R588 million in expenditures.
As the situation develops, questions remain about the full implications of Maseko’s resignation and the ongoing investigations into procurement misconduct within the Gauteng Department of Health.
