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MEC's response to the article in Mail and Guardian Newspaper
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Health

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MEDIA RELEASE
 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
 30 OCTOBER 2000


RESPONSE ON ARTICLE OF MAIL AND GURDIAN - 27 OCTOBER UP TO THE 3 NOVEMBER 2000.

The MEC for Health in Eastern Cape has received a number of calls from the media fraternity in the recent weeks regarding his role as an 
MEC for Health and the private ownership of an ambulance service in Umtata. Apart from these calls, it has come to the attention of the MEC 
that he is also being secretly investigated by certain unconstitutional group whose aim is to expose the perceived clash of interests.

Since this is a matter of public concern the Office of the MEC wishes to inform the public about the facts regarding the ambulance service 
and expose the MEC’s private interests if there are any.

* Dr. Bevan Goqwana who was appointed as an MEC for Health in June 1999 has a private ambulance service in Umtata which is not linked to 
any hospital as it has been stated in the media reports.
* The company was registered in 1998 and started to operate early in 1999.
* In March 1999 Dr Goqwana was appointed as a Chief Medical Superintendent of Umtata General Hospital a position he held until June when he 
became MEC for Health.
* After he was appointed as the MEC for Health he decided to do away with it. A group of business people from Durban was interested in 
buying the company. However, the processing of selling and buying is not a simple exchange of fish and chips with a R10 note. Unfortunately 
the deal could not materialize as the group, which had an interest, failed to honour its obligations. Dr. Goqwana was then forced to call 
off the deal and the service was halted in March 2000. Since then it has not been operational.

Clash of interests

* Dr. Goqwana is a specialist i.e. a physician. In terns of the former homeland’s policy, he was entitled to a limited private practice, 
which was granted to him in the early 90’s. Due to his business acumen he decided to enter into another related business i.e. a private 
ambulance service. This materialized in 1998.

* He did not deny the fact that he previously owned the company but due to the conditions of the new post he was forced to quit the 
business and did not resist on doing that hence there are so many interested buyers

Thank you

Issued by Joe Mjoli  Enquiries 040 635 2166
 Office of the MEC for Health


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