LADYBRAND -Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae responded that an investigation was imminent into the appointment of fraudster Zongezile Adam Zumane as the chief executive officer at the Senoria Ntlabathi District Hospital in Ladybrand. The former Mangaung Metro council speaker’s appointment to another public entity, despite his criminal status, caused outrage, attracting media publicity.
In a media statement issued on Monday, 23 February, Matshediso Setai, spokesperson for the Free State government, addressed Zumane’s controversial appointment to an influential position, stating it occurred before Letsoha-Mathae’s tenure. She pointed out that Zumane was subsequently directed to perform other functions with immediate effect, explaining the decision was in terms of Regulation 63 of the Public Service, “for an investigation to be conducted.”
Setai stated that Zumane was appointed on 1 April 2019 as a Clinical Programme Coordinator at Winburg District Hospital after disclosing his previous criminal record. He held the position until his recent appointment as CEO in June last year.
Setai further clarified Premier Letsoha-Mathae’s stance regarding appointment. “In her role as the executive authority over the provincial administration, it is important to note that the Premier is not responsible for the appointment of hospital CEOs. After decades of maladministration and rampant corruption that previously engulfed our province, it would be irresponsible for the Premier to involve herself in the operational matters of departments,” said Setai, adding that Letsoha-Mathae has noted the concerns arising from Zumane’s appointment.
“However, while the Premier acknowledges the concerns and respects the media freedom enshrined in our Constitution, it is imperative that journalists report ethically and factually rather than attempt to create sensational headlines. Had the journalist undertaken thorough research, they would have established that she was not involved in the said appointment,” said Setai, referring to an article titled ‘Premier defends fraudster appointment’ published by Sunday World. It was published on Sunday, 22 February 2024. According to Setai, the article contained factually incorrect claims.
Convicted in 2012 for fraud and money laundering, Zumane was sentenced to eight years of direct imprisonment but was released after serving just three years at the Grootvlei Medium B Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein. A member of the ANC, Zumane holds a national diploma in nursing and graduated from the now-defunct Mangaung Nursing College of the Free State, a former nursing institution in Bloemfontein.
Zumane’s appointment has triggered backlash from opposing political parties in the Free State, with DA and EFF leading the charge.
“The Premier may not be involved in appointments but has a responsibility to investigate concerns regarding appointments as part of their monitoring, coordinating and oversight function over departments under their control. It appears that the Premier, by attacking the media, is shooting the messenger while avoiding taking responsibility for the controversy in the provincial government,” said Roy Jankielsohn, DA provincial leader. He said his party will raise the issue of Zumane’s appointment in the Legislature with the Department and MEC of Health.
According to the EFF, disclosure of a criminal record, as stated the response, is not sufficient to justify the appointment of a convicted fraudster to a public entity, noting the importance of clean governance. “This is a brazen act of political arrogance that exposes the moral decay of ANC governance in the Free State. The law governing public service appointments in South Africa requires strict compliance with principles of merit, suitability, integrity, and thorough verification. Senior management appointments must undergo rigorous vetting, qualification verification, and assessment of fitness to hold office. These are not optional procedures; they are safeguards designed to protect the public from precisely the type of recklessness we are witnessing. The position of a hospital CEO is critical for overseeing financial management, procurement, and ultimately the quality of healthcare delivery,” said EFF.
- Also read judgement involving Zumane and others https://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZAFSHC/2013/155.html
