Over R1m of the R3.9m unlawfully paid to 7 Cuban doctors recovered - Gauteng Health

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng Department of Health said it had recovered over R1 million of the R3.9 million unlawfully paid to seven absent Cuban doctors.

The doctors were part of a group of 28 Cuban doctors hired for a one-year contract in South Africa to assist at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The doctors, whose contracts were due to end in May 2021, had left the country to return to Cuba but continued receiving salaries until May 2022.

MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko initially disclosed the matter in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA) last week.

Speaking on The Aubrey Masango Show on 702 on Monday night, Nkomo-Ralehoko said that due processes were not followed.

"We have successfully recovered an amount of 1.2 [million rand] from the seven Cuban doctors who were brought in during COVID-19, whose contracts expired in May 2022. There was an overpayment that was done as a result of extending the contracts of those healthcare workers without following the required process."

She said a probe into the matter was conducted.

"It was as a result of the contracts that were extended. So, they were extended unlawfully. Somebody made a mistake. It can be a crime indeed, but investigations have been conducted, so we'll definitely act on that."