403 YOUNGSTERS NOT PAID BY GAUTENG HEALTH DEPT

The Gauteng Health Department has failed to pay 403 young people since April this year their monthly stipends of R1100 as required by their one year learnership contracts.

This was disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu today in reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

They were recruited in April this year to do HIV/Aids Counselling and Testing (HCT) and data capture work all over the province in a campaign launched with great fanfare at Natalspruit Hospital in the presence of President Jacob Zuma when he publically disclosed his own HIV status.

Only 273 recruits have been paid at all - according to Mahlangu, the rest will be paid at the end of this month.

The problem, as admitted by Mahlangu, is that they were originally meant to be paid by the Department of Infrastructure Development as part of the Expanded Public Works Programme, but then the Health Department had to take it over.

Mahlangu also admitted that her department had "serious challenges around finances" in this matter.

I have spoken to many youngsters who have loyally pitched up to work at various hospitals and clinics despite their lack of pay.

They have been let down badly by poor management of a worthwhile programme.

MEC Mahlangu owes them a huge apology and should ensure that their stipends are promptly paid for the remainder of their one year contracts.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, October 12 2010

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