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Dr. Nomafrench Mbombo (Photo: MELINDA STUURMAN)
- Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo travels to Limpopo for the holidays, leaving healthcare workers overburdened to cope with rising pandemic levels in the province.
- Mbombo posted a video of herself on Facebook, dancing and singing, and said she felt sorry for those who are not as privileged as her to go on vacation.
- Her spokesperson said that she had been working 24 hours a day and that she was a health worker herself.
Distraught and overworked healthcare workers are on duty 24 hours a day, as the rate of Covid-19 infections in some provinces is expected to exceed that of the first wave in the next two weeks.
But Western Cape Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo is taking a long break and has taken to Facebook to brag about it.
On Wednesday, Mbombo posted a video on her Facebook page showing her singing and dancing, and saying: “I officially declare the 2020 Mbombo holiday open …”
In it he revealed that he would go to Limpopo during the holidays.
“Soon I will be a Venda girl,” she posted.
Mbombo said it was a “long-deserved break” but did not forget those who stayed behind to fight the virus.
She posted: “Too bad many health workers and communities are not so fortunate and privileged [sic]. Covid and poverty ixakile [it is out of control]. MHSRIP “.
A query sent to Mbombo on WhatsApp returned an automated message with Covid-19 information and contacts. The message ended with: “Stop the spread, mask yourself. Keep your bubble small. It’s in the air.”
It also said: “NOTE, I AM SPORADIC IN ANSWERS OR NOT RESPONDING AT ALL DURING THIS TIME. I need to revitalize.”
He later responded by confirming that he was on leave, but said he checked the comment section of his Facebook post and couldn’t find anyone making a negative comment about it.
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The last time he went on leave was in December 2017, Mbombo said.
It is unclear how long he will be on leave or when was the last time he had a break.
Her spokesperson, Douglas Newman-Valentine, responded to questions simply by saying, “As you know, the minister, who is a health worker, has been working around the clock to ensure the ultimate functioning of the health system.
He did not want to say where Mbombo was going or elaborate.
“Your line of questions is at a level that could violate the minister’s safety and security,” Newman-Valentine said in the emailed response.
Bath flavor
ANC MPL and health spokeswoman Rachel Windvogel said Mbombo’s actions were “in very bad taste,” adding that it was not right to “indulge in frivolous feasting at a time of solemn and deep grief with heavy losses globally and regionally. “.
Windvogel said Mbombo was not in a position to “be in charge of about a third of the provincial budget and a critical department that has a significant impact on the lives of residents.”
He added that Prime Minister Alan Winde should study his decision to “celebrate the holiday scandalously while his department is under great pressure with very little availability. [hospital] beds, too many health professionals sick with Covid and the infection rate in their province at a record level. “
Windvogel said it was “beyond comprehension” that Winde exposed the Mbombo court “in such a terrible time of crisis” when the staff worked overtime while the political boss “danced condescendingly and strutted cruelly celebrating his vacation outside. of service”.
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