Professor Ebrahim Variava was allegedly suspended on Tuesday, with the details of his suspension not provided to the public. 

Meanwhile, a clinical and research colleague, Neil Martinson, and others this morning issued a statement and reacted with shock to the suspension of Variava. Martinson alleges that the suspended head previously raised concerns with the department, amonmgst others, about repeated and lengthy drug stock-outs, mostly used for patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU). 

MEC Madoda Sambatha is expected to address the media on the suspension of Variava on Wednesday afternoon. 

"His suspension comes at a time during the declared National Disaster when medical professionals, particularly experts in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe medical illnesses, are most required. We feel none of the poorly drafted charges bears any relation to Professor Variava’s conduct and dedication to both patient care and academia," Martinson says. 

He adds that following the recommendation of the now-retired judge, Dikgang Moseneke, who chaired the Life Esidemeni Inquiry, Varian raised this matter elsewhere because he felt obliged as a doctor to save the lives of patients.

"When it appeared that no-one was listening, as recommended by the findings of the Life Esidimeni Inquiry, he raised the issue on other platforms," Martinson further adds.

Martinson and Variava's other colleagues have made a call to the Department of Health to withdraw his suspension and urgently consider dialogue to resolve their differences. 

The complex is situated in the Matlosana Local Municipality, which is one of two municipalities in the province considered to be Covid-19 epicenters. The complex is a designated hospital with an isolation centre for Covid-19 patients in the province. 

So far the province has 1 124 active cases after 152 patients recovered from the virus, with 5 deaths recorded from 1 281  reported cases. 

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