Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng shadow health MEC, Jack Bloom, has raised serious concerns about the appointment of African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) members to provincial hospital boards, alleging that at least 10 individuals were selected without interviews.
Speaking after a portfolio committee meeting on Wednesday, Bloom said the Gauteng Department of Health failed to provide clarity on the transparency and fairness of the selection process.
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“A panel of senior officials assessed the applications without any interviews,” Bloom revealed. He added that 820 valid applications had been received for 229 board positions across 34 hospitals, yet the recruitment process lacked the due diligence expected for such critical appointments.
According to Bloom, the advertised criteria called for professionals with expertise in various fields, including law, finance, governance, and healthcare, or individuals with a proven record of community service. “This is not a job for people seeking income or political influence. It’s a service role,” he said.
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Allegations of Political Bias and Lack of Clarity
Bloom expressed alarm at the reported involvement of ANCYL members, referencing a claim by ANCYL provincial secretary Mpumelelo Sangweni, who stated that 10 of their members had been appointed.
“This is an appalling motivation when the focus should be on getting competent people who can help the hospital in treating patients with dignity and care,” said Bloom. “It is highly suspicious that 10 out of 28 youth members appointed are members of the ANCYL.”
He stressed the need for the department to explain the rationale behind the appointments and disclose the qualifications of those selected. “The department needs to provide the details of their qualifications and the reasons for their appointments, as opposed to other applicants,” Bloom said.
The department has promised to return to the committee with the necessary information, which Bloom hopes will clarify whether any undue preference was given to politically affiliated candidates.
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Department and ANCYL Defend Appointments
In response to the DA’s claims, Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba rejected any suggestion of political interference, calling the allegations “baseless” and “insulting” to the over 200 professionals appointed.
“These individuals have volunteered to serve their communities in roles that are not financially driven,” Modiba stated.
ANCYL’s Sangweni echoed this sentiment, insisting the appointments were merit-based. “Young people applied, and they were appointed because they met the requirements. Nowhere in the advertisement did it require applicants to state their political affiliation,” he said.
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Sangweni also pointed out that only 10 out of 220 board members are ANCYL members and accused the DA of politicising the issue.
“There are members of other political parties, clergy, and community activists on these boards. The DA’s fixation on ANCYL members has more to do with the upcoming cabinet reshuffle than hospital governance,” he said.
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