Calls for health MEC’s removal mounts after andidikwe comment

Out of her depth, an embarrassment, crazy and incompetent.

These are some of the words used to describe embattled Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba, as calls for her removal mount.

This comes after Gomba was heard saying andidikwe (I am fed up) after she had finished making a presentation during a virtual press briefing on Tuesday night organised by health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize. Other health MECs were also part of the virtual briefing.

In a statement on Wednesday, Gomba said her comment had been misinterpreted, and she had said it in reference to feeling hot because of a doek she had on.

But political analyst professor Mcebisi Ndletyana dismissed this.

“Anyone who understands isiXhosa knows ukudikwa is being fed up with where you are. The proper interpretation is that she was bored, she was fed up with the entire proceedings. It had nothing to do with her clothing.

“If it had something to do with her clothing she could have used a different terminology. A proper Xhosa word is isifuthufuthu,” he said.

Ndletyana was scathing, saying the mishap should get Gomba fired.

“It goes beyond the incident. She has just revealed her own limitations. It’s a culmination of what has been happening all along. She has been found completely wanting. She lacks the capacity and perhaps even the energy to serve in that role.”

Ndletyana said the Eastern Cape should have appointed a medical doctor as health MEC.

“She has no business serving in that post, she’s completely out of her depth. She’s an embarrassment to the province.

“It would really be a demonstration of lack of self respect for the province to keep her there because the province would be saying that her mediocrity represents the best that the province can offer,” he charged.

Another analyst, Dr Somadoda Fikeni, agreed, describing Gomba’s comment as unfortunate.

“The biggest test now is a simple one: is she the right person for the position? Even in the best of times,  if there was no mishap, this is a do-or-die, sink-or-swim situation for the country. When provinces are under the spotlight of the world, they  ought to do their best in fighting this battle of a lifetime,” he said.

Another analyst, Ralpha Mathekga described Gomba as “crazy”. 

“The Eastern Cape is giving the impression that they are on a defiance campaign but the sad part is that to manage this thing going forward, you need strong provinces.

“The Eastern Cape has messed up big time. For the MEC to say such a thing, I don’t think it was a mistake. This is not something to play around with,” he said.

EFF provincial chair Yazini Tetyana called for Gomba to be replaced by a “young, vibrant and energetic leader”.

“Her utterances confirmed our long-held view that she lacks the necessary capacity and patience to lead the department in its fight against the novel virus,” he said, calling on Mkhize to take over the running of the provincial health department.

DA MPL Jane Cowley criticised Gomba for what she said was the provision of incomplete Covid-19 information.

She said she would have a virtual meeting with Gomba before deciding whether the DA would also call for her removal.

Last week, the ANC Youth League in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA called for the axe to fall on Gomba.

However, premier Oscar Mabuyane said he had faith in Gomba, as she had led from the front ever since being appointed health MEC in 2019.

Mabuyane could not be reached for comment as he was locked in a cabinet meeting at the time of writing.

However, in an interview before the executive committee meeting, Gomba said calls for her removal would not deter her.

“People have a right to say what they want to say, but it becomes rather funny because I do not know where this comes from [calls for her removal]. I have not changed the way I work since I entered the health department.

“I do not want to be distracted and I am continuing to work. At the end of the day we all know we are in politics and that is how I look at these issues. In politics you will never be liked because some never wanted me to be MEC, for that matter,” Gomba said.

“It is said that I cannot run health because I am not a doctor and I was never a nurse. I am not wanting to look at those issues, people are saying what they feel they need to say. If they feel it is their choice, fine let it be.”