The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate the appointment of Dr Dion Theys to the position of Head of the Department of Health, in July last year.
The department, which spent almost a full administrative term without an HOD, continues to be headed up by an Acting HOD, as Theys appeals a conviction from August 2023 for contravening the Public Finance Management Act, after being accused of concluding three irregular lease agreements for nursing accommodation. In the meantime, Theys has been transferred back to his former position of Medical Director, while appealing the case and effectively placing a freeze on the filling of the HOD position. During a recent legislature portfolio committee meeting, the health department also confirmed that Theys continues to earn a salary greater than an HOD, given the previous occupation specific dispensation.
While the DA objected to the appointment of Theys to the HOD position, it is even more unacceptable that a department as broken and riddled with corruption as the health department, is essentially being held hostage by an individual with a track record like Dr Theys’.
We have submitted a written request to the PSC, in relation to its powers as set out in Section 196(4) of the Constitution, asking that it investigates whether the personnel procedures relating to Theys’ recruitment, his internal transfers, promotion and lack of disciplinary action and dismissal, comply with the regulatory framework applicable to the appointment of staff as prescribed in the Public Service Act 1994, relevant legislation and policies applicable to the department and Public Service Regulations.
We are also particularly concerned about possible non-adherence to the directives issued by the Minister for Public Service and Administration, such as conducting criminal record checks and reference checks. This is especially relevant given that Theys was serving as Acting HOD in 2021, around the time of his arrest for the nursing accommodation case, in addition to a subsequent arrest on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) related corruption charges. The PPE charges were provisionally withdrawn in December 2022 but shortly after his appointment in July 2023, he was arrested again in August and October, on additional charges of PPE corruption relating to tenders amounting to R16 million and R26 million, respectively.
The DA hopes that the PSC will prioritise our investigation request. Armed with the PSC’s findings and subsequent advice, the department will be better able to move forward in the pursuit of stability, good management and clean governance for the sake of the 1,1 million citizens of the Northern Cape who depend on it for medical care.