The Mpumalanga department of health is accused of spending more than R2 million on remunerating its research unit\u2019s employees, who never conducted any research the previous financial year. <\/p>\n
The department has reportedly paid combined annual salaries of R2.1 million to the three employees last year, yet they did not submit any research. <\/p>\n
According to recent responses to the portfolio committee on health, the department has a staff research unit with a budget allocation of R2 692 000, of which R2 100 000 is for salaries and 592 000 for goods and services. <\/p>\n
The department conceded that no research project or studies were conducted in the 2025-2026 financial year.<\/p>\n
Non-profit civil action group Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse<\/a> (Outa) has called on authorities to investigate. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is just another example of government departments employing fulltime staff and\/or consultants to do work that never materialises. This is a gross waste of taxpayers\u2019 money,\u201d said Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage. <\/p>\n Duvenage said the Public Service Commission (PSC) should investigate and produce a report, from which a decision should be taken on who to hold accountable for the wasteful expenditure. <\/p>\n \u201cHopefully, someone will be held accountable, but if the ANC\u2019s track record is anything to go by, there is a high probability that this matter will be delayed and ignored, with no-one being held to account.\u201d <\/p>\n The DA in Mpumalanga also believes that the matter should be investigated. <\/p>\n Bosman Grobler, a DA member in the provincial legislature, said PSC should intervene and hold the provincial government responsible for the alleged failure. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is unacceptable, especially with outbreaks of the coronavirus, monkeypox, as well as the recent hantavirus<\/a>. The department should be on top of its research to ensure the province is responsive to potential outbreaks and protects not only its citizens, but its medical personnel too.\u201d <\/p>\n Department spokesperson Dumisane Malamule rejected the allegation that R2.1 million was paid for research that never materialised. <\/p>\n \u201cThis claim is misleading, selective and not supported by the full facts provided to the portfolio committee on health. The R2.1 million referred to by the DA is not a payment for an outsourced research project. It is not a tender. It is not an invoice paid to a service provider for a report that was not delivered. The amount forms part of the department\u2019s approved allocation for compensation of employees within the research unit.\u201d <\/p>\n Malamule said the official response to the committee clearly stated that the research unit has three officials: a director, a deputy director and an administrative clerk. <\/p>\n These are permanent employees occupying approved posts in the department. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is therefore misleading to create the impression that the department paid three researchers for a single research report that was never produced. The department also confirms that research work has previously informed service delivery. <\/p>\n \u201cDuring the 2024-25 financial year, we conducted an internal study on the implementation of the complaints, compliments and suggestions guidelines. That study resulted in operational improvements, including training for doctors and nurses<\/a> on the effective management of complaints, as well as improved quality Improvement plans.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\u2018This is unacceptable\u2019<\/h3>\n
Department rejects allegations<\/h3>\n