Israeli officials' visit could land hospitals' CEOs in hot water

REFUSING Israel’s donation would have amounted to defying AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, say two Eastern Cape hospitals chief executive officers as the provincial government awaits a report on why they breached government protocol.

King Dalindyebo sparked controversy on Tuesday by taking Israel Embassy officials to visit the public hospitals in the province without the knowledge of the International Relations and Cooperation Department (DIRCO) and the provincial government.

The two CEOs, following a preliminary investigation by provincial Health Department officials, defended their breach of diplomatic and standard government protocols, which allowed a delegation access to their hospitals.

They claimed that they felt compelled to accept the delegation out of respect for the king, fearing they would embarrass him in front of his guests.

An official from Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity, said while the premier awaits a report from Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa on the incident, the Premier’s Office has learned the defence of the two CEOs.

They claim that after being called to the king's residence, they felt they could not walk away and embarrass him after he introduced them to guests. This is despite not having been informed beforehand.

According to the insiders, on Tuesday, the king called the two CEOs to his residence and  introduced them to the Israel delegation and immediately told them they were bringing donations to the hospitals.

The provincial government’s spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga said although the CEOs’ explanation is not officially part of the report since the investigation is still ongoing, the Premier’s Office did receive that explanation.

“It is true we received that explanation; however, this is not an official report. The Health MEC will provide the premier with a comprehensive report on what transpired. After learning about this, the premier immediately directed the Health MEC to investigate and bring a report to him. We need to know how the access was granted and how the donations were received without the known standard protocols,” said Mbananga.

He further stated that Premier Mabuyane has officially briefed DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola about the incident, adding that it would now be the department that will deal with the matter.

However, Mbananga said the provincial government is not against donations or against Israel, as many are now suggesting. 

What the provincial government is against is the undermining of the government’s protocols and the country’s Constitution, he said.

DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri had not yet responded to the questions sent to him earlier at the time of publishing. Attempts to get comment from the king were unsuccessful.

King Dalindyebo's recent visit to Israel, during which he was hosted by senior government officials, sparked widespread criticism.

The backlash was amplified by the hoisting of the South African flag during the meeting, which many interpreted as suggesting the king's engagement with Israeli officials was representative of the country. This visit had not received approval from DIRCO.

Visiting Ambassador David Saranga of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted as having said the King’s trip to Jerusalem last month laid the groundwork for a reciprocal journey, aimed at examining how Israel can contribute practical expertise to improve daily life in the Eastern Cape, particularly in the fields of water, health, agriculture, and education. 

“Healthcare was another central pillar of the visit. Together with King Dalindyebo, I visited Mthatha General Hospital and the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, engaging in in-depth discussions with their chief executives. The conversations focused on potential cooperation with Sheba Medical Center, Israel’s largest and most comprehensive hospital. These discussions built on an earlier meeting in Israel between the King and Professor Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center. At that meeting, Professor Kreiss made a clear and concrete commitment: ‘Tell us what you need, and we will bring our experts to you. We will share our knowledge and experience, and we will cover all the costs’.”

Cape Times