Rural hospital in shambles while department spends half a million for CEO’s hotel stay 

Zithulele Hospital has seen an exodus of doctors and nurses since the CEO was appointed. (Photo: supplied)
Zithulele Hospital has seen an exodus of doctors and nurses since the CEO was appointed. (Photo: supplied)

The Eastern Cape health department has reportedly spent over R500,000 on hotel accommodation for the CEO of Zithulele Hospital. 

Disgruntled workers tell Health-e News that this is a slap in the face as the money could have been spent on hospital equipment, linen, nutritious food for the patients, or even paying for an alternative water source which is the biggest challenge at the hospital. 

In a written reply to parliament, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said Zithulele Hospital CEO Nolubabalo Fatyela was accommodated at three different hotels in Mthatha for nearly two years, costing the department over R574 000. 

Fatyela, who was appointed in September 2021, stayed at Savoy, Bluetiq and Mayfair hotels from August 2022 to July 2024. The expenditure was authorised by the district director, and paid for from the OR Tambo District’s budget. 

Staff who spoke to Health-e News on condition of anonymity say a hospital driver had to neglect his duties to drive Fatyela to and from Mthatha (86.5km away). 

Nomsa*, who has been a nurse at the hospital for five years, says it is shocking that the department spent so much money on hotel accommodation when they were struggling to keep patients alive. The 150-bed hospital serves a population of about 130 000 every month.

“There are times when we go for a week without water, and there is no arrangement by the management to provide water at the hospital. Patients would go for a week without taking a bath. During this time nurses have to go to a local river about 2km from the hospital to get water whereas there are staff shortages at the hospital,” says Nomsa. 

She says they have to use the water for cooking, washing their uniforms, and for patients.

“This also affects toilets and unfortunately there is no outside toilet that we can use when there is no water.  We have to use the blocked toilets,” she says.

Phiko,* another nurse, adds that the admission area does not have blood pressure machines, which then have to be borrowed from the wards. 

“Patients would spend the whole week with one hospital outfit because the laundry machines need to be fixed. Patients are fed pap and soup as if they are dogs. They have to bring their own blankets because there is a shortage of linen at the hospital. We are not saying the money could have fixed all the hospital problems but it could have made a huge difference,” he says. 

Exodus of doctors and nurses

This is not the first time Fatyela finds herself in hot water. It has been reported that the quality of care at the hospital has deteriorated due to the exodus of doctors and nurses who started leaving when Fatyela joined the hospital. 

Mxolisi*, a regular patient at the hospital who asked not to be identified, says things are not the same at the hospital as most senior doctors have left. 

“It used to be one of the best hospitals and villagers were happy about the services. However, ever since the appointment of the CEO things have changed. I am a regular at the hospital and the food is no longer the same. We used to get nutritious meals with fruit but that is a thing of the past. It also takes time for patients to be helped and nurses are always complaining they are short-staffed. You also have to bring your own pyjamas and blankets from home if you know you will be admitted,” Mxolisi says. 

Phiko adds that it was stressful to see their colleagues, especially doctors, leaving. He says the last nail in the coffin was when Dr Nick Fine, a senior doctor, was removed from the hospital by Fatyela in June this year. 

“The district manager visited the hospital and she said we should elect committee members who will speak on our behalf.  A committee was elected and they took our grievances to the management. We were shocked when we heard that they were suspended,” he says. 

Phiko says this led to a protest which was also joined by community members. The hospital had to shut down and the patients were diverted to other hospitals. 

“There is nothing good that the CEO has done for this hospital. People are not working because they were suspended and now it’s difficult to attend to all patients. Some return home without being helped,” Phiko says. 

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UDM’s member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Mkhululi Mcotsho says the complaints by the workers and Fatyela’s hotel stay were raised at the legislature. 

“When Fatyela started at the hospital there was a power struggle between the CEO and superintendent. Some doctors left the hospital for reasons better known by the hospital management,” he says. 

The provincial Department of Health convened a meeting in August 2022 and people were afforded an opportunity to present their case in front of the department’s officials. Mcotsho says it was decided that an investigation would be conducted and a report would be presented at the hospital. 

“We are still waiting for the report. In the meantime we expect the department to make the workplace conducive for both the community and the workers,” he says. 

Threats against the CEO

Eastern Cape health spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase says Fatyela had to be accommodated away from Zithulele Hospital because of threats against her. 

“Whenever there are safety concerns against any employee, we always do everything possible to ensure their safety,” Ndamase says. 

On the complaints by the workers, Ndamase says the department will conduct an investigation to establish the facts to determine the way forward. 

“We welcome every effort to promote good and clean governance,” he says. – Health-e News

*Not their real names

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