21 August 2013 Dear Hon. Noxolo Kiviet Provincial Administration Fax: 040 609 6607 / Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

This letter is prepared and submitted to you by the Eastern Cape Health Crisis Action Coalition (ECHCAC) which consists of organisations with an interest in the improvement of the health care system in the Eastern Cape. The members of the Coalition are as follows:

x Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) x Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) x Democratic Nursing Organisation of (DENOSA) x South African Medical Association (SAMA) x Rural Doctors Association of South Africa (RuDASA) x Junior Doctors Association of South Africa (JuDASA) x Rural Rehabilitation South Africa (RuReSA) x Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) x Democracy from Below x SECTION27 x Professional Association of Clinical Associates in South Africa (PACASA) x ‡‘’Ž‡ǯ• ‡ƒŽ–Š‘˜‡‡–ȋ Ȍ

On 19 July 2013 the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) wrote to you regarding the appointment of a permanent accounting officer for the Eastern Cape Department of Health (the Department). PSAM requested that you respond by 5 August 2013. On 8 August 2013 PSAM were advised that a response would be provided by Thursday 15 August 2013. Unfortunately no response was received (a copy of PSAM correspondence is enclosed).

As a result therefore, the Coalition has decided to address an open letter to you as the leader of government business in this province. We write to establish what steps have and are being taken to ensure that a permanent accounting officer is appointed to head up the Department in the immediate future?

As we are sure you will be aware, this Department continues to render an inadequate level of service. This state ‘ˆƒˆˆƒ‹”•”‡•—Ž–•‹ƒ‘‰‘‹‰˜‹‘Žƒ–‹‘‘ˆ’‡‘’Ž‡ǯ• ‘•–‹–—–‹‘ƒŽ”‹‰Š–•–‘ƒ†‡“—ƒ–‡Ž‡˜‡Ž•‘ˆŠ‡ƒŽ–Š ƒ”‡Ǥ

We note that the Department has been without a permanent accounting officer since the end of January 2013 ™Š‡ ” ‹ŽŽƒ›ǯ• ‘–”ƒ – ‡š’‹”‡†Ǥ ‡ ƒ”‡ ƒŽ•‘ ƒ™ƒ”‡ –Šƒ– ” ‹ŽŽƒ› ‹‹–‹ƒ–‡† ‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘• ‹–‘ ˆŽƒ™‡† procurement practices in the Department and that the Multi-Agency Working Group (MAWG) was also investigating the current state of affairs. We are concerned that these investigations appear to not be progressing.

In view of the current situation and the fact that you are responsible for the appointment of a new accounting officer for the Department, we deem it necessary to ask the following questions:

1. Please advise on which date shortlisted candidates for the vacant post were identified and how many candidates were in fact shortlisted?

2. On which date(s) were shortlisted candidates interviewed?

3. What was the outcome of such interviews? 3.1. If a candidate was offered the post, on which date was the offer made? 3.2. Has the offer been accepted, and if so when will the candidate commence his/her employment? 3.3. If the offer was declined, what course of action will be taken? 3.3.1. Will you offer the post to the second best candidate, if so has this occurred? 3.3.2. Will you be re-advertising, if so where is the process of recruitment currently at?

Please provide a written and substantive response to the Coalition by 23 August 2013.

Yours faithfully

The Eastern Cape Health Crisis Action Coalition

For enquiries and a response to our letter please contact the following representatives of the Coalition:

Jay Kruuse Director Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) Rhodes University PO Box 94 Grahamstown 6139 Tel: 046 603 8358 Fax: 046 603 7578 Email: [email protected]

Sasha Stevenson Attorney SECTION27 5th Floor Braamfontein Centre 23 Jorissen Street Braamfontein 2000 Tel: +27 11 356 4100 Fax: +27 11 339 4311 Email: [email protected]