Nurse pleads guilty to stealing ARVs

Lebogang Mosikare
Correspondent | Wednesday April 24, 2013 00:00

 

The state alleges that Themba Elias, 33, between April and June 2011 whilst employed by the Ministry of Health at Sowa Town Clinic stole 22 bottles of Nevarapine, nine boxes of Comvivir, five boxes of Truvada, nine boxes of Atripla, one box of Nevamtium and 10 boxes of Efivarenz valued at P4,246, that came into his possession by virtue of his employment. 

State prosecutor Nancy Obonye applied for the charge sheet to be read to the accused person and a plea be taken. The soft-spoken Elias entered a plea of guilty before magistrate Mpho Molema. He informed the court that he no longer works for the ministry and is now unemployed. The magistrate set May 14 for facts to be read to the accused.

During the Ministry of Health (MOH) leadership forum workshop held at Adansonia Hotel in Francistown at the height of the public service strike in 2011, Minister Dr John Seakgosing promised to crack the whip on employees caught stealing state property.

He said this shortly after a scandalous case where an employee of Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital was caught with stolen meat and other perishables belonging to the hospital. At the time, Seakgosing said some MOH employees do not only steal food but also medicinal property meant for the general upkeep of patients. 

The minister also stated that MOH had in the past been lenient on employees charged with petty theft committed at health facilities, but vowed to flex his muscles to deter other employees from committing similar offences.

In January three groundsmen employed at Nyangabwe Referral Hospital were found guilty of stealing goods worth over P65,000 belonging to the hospital.