Johannesburg – The suspension of four health directors in Gauteng was welcomed by the DA on Wednesday.

“This is long overdue, as there was a damning forensic audit on this depot last year,” DA spokesperson Jack Bloom said in a statement.

“It appears that we have been grossly over-paying for medicine in Gauteng, and there have been recurring supply problems of essential drugs,” he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the department announced that a chief director, two directors, and a deputy director had been suspended on full pay for alleged fraud.

They were suspected of misconduct in the department’s medical supply depot, following an investigation led by the office of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane.

Health MEC Hope Papo said the department was ready to begin disciplinary hearings.

“We are very serious about exorcising the rot in the department, and I have asked my staff to ensure that the process for disciplinary hearings is commenced shortly.

“We do not want to have suspended people receiving full pay while sitting at home,” he said in the statement.

– SAPA