THE HEALTH Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) chief executive Dr David Motau has been placed on precautionary suspension, two months after his appointment
Motau was last week placed on suspension by then acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.
The HPCSA is a state regulatory body with 12 professional boards under it that provides control over the education, training and registration of health professionals registered under the Health Professions Act. The council also investigates complaints made against any health practitioner and conducts investigations when necessary.
HPCSA president Professor Simon Nemtandani said the cautionary suspension was in connection with Motau being criminally charged relating to his former tenure as a head of department of Health in the Free State province.
He said the HPCSA had noted the decision and it supported organs of state in the execution of their duties.
Nemtandani said at the time of Motau’s appointment in June this year that the HPCSA was not aware of any possible charges that could be pressed against him, adding that the body would provide updates should there be further developments on the matter.
According to information from the Free State Hawks, Motau is among 13 people who have been charged in connection with the alleged defrauding of the province’s Department of Health of R8 million. They appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court last week.
Meanwhile the HPCSA’s Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO) has also sent a stern warning to KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng practitioners, and the public to refrain from buying any stolen goods obtained during recent looting in both provinces.
The PBODO said it was encouraged by the efforts of those within the health-care community and in particular the eyecare community who rallied together to support and assist colleagues and friends to rebuild, restore and recover from what it described as devastating losses.
“Affected practitioners have lost both stock and equipment. While it is unlikely that much of the stolen merchandise will be recovered, some practitioners may be approached to purchase stolen goods. We appeal to practitioners not to purchase these but to bring this to the attention of law enforcement authorities. Furthermore, if you are found in possession of stolen goods you may be guilty of an offence,” it said.