HOSPERSA WELCOMES THE APPOINTMENT OF ZWELI MKHIZE AS NEW HEALTH MINISTER

Hospersa has welcomed the appointment of Zweli Mkhize as the new Minister of Health by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Union has called on the new minister to resuscitate the ailing Department of Health (DoH) characterised by staff shortages, poor infrastructure as well as corruption and maladministration. Hospersa has also applauded the President for appointing fifty percent (50%) women in the new cabinet citing that the country is moving in the right direction in addressing gender parity in senior government positions.

Last night the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced his new cabinet for the sixth administration. President Ramaphosa appointed Zweli Mkhize as the new Minister of Health while Dr Aaron Motsoaledi was moved from the health portfolio to the Department of Home Affairs as the new Minister in that portfolio. Hospersa has welcomed the appointment of Zweli Mkhize citing that he did a good job in the DoH from 1994 – 2004 when he was the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Health Member of Executive Council (MEC). The Union has also given him a vote of confidence as the right person that could turn around the fortunes of the ailing DoH which is buckling under pressure in delivering quality health care.

“We welcome the appointment of Zweli Mkhize as this portfolio needed a new dawn,” said Hospersa Public Relations Officer Kevin Halama. “We also applaud Dr Aaron Motsoaledi for his contribution during his tenure as the Minister of Health. Our DoH needs dedicated leaders that will bring urgent renewal, especially with rolling out the National Health Insurance (NHI). We are hopeful that this appointment will bring the required change and resuscitate the department,” added Halama.

“We are also looking forward to working with Minister Mkhize in addressing a number of challenges affecting the delivery of quality health care as well as worker related issues affecting our members. To turn around the DoH, Minister Mkhize will need to hit the ground running and tackle staff shortages, poor infrastructure, corruption and maladministration which have been the root cause of the country’s nearly collapsed health care service.” added Halama.

“We also welcome the appointment of fifty percent (50%) women in the new cabinet,” said Halama. “We applaud President Ramaphosa for ensuring that women take up key positions in Government as this will set a good example in addressing gender parity not only in government but in the private sector as well” concluded Halama.

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