DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NCOP
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 327
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 19 August 2011
327. Mr H B Groenewald (DA-NW) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:
(1) Whether a certain company (name furnished) has appointed a medical
doctor into its employment; if not, what is the position in this regard; if
so, (a) where is the doctor based, (b) what are the details with regard to
his availability, (c) what are the qualifications of the appointed doctor,
(d) what is the cost to company for the appointment contract and (e) what
were the tender amounts for all the applicants for the position;
(2) What are the required qualifications for such an appointment at all of
its mining operations;
(3) Whether a chief safety officer has been appointed at the said company;
if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the (i) legal and (ii) professional
requirements for the position, (b) what are the qualifications of the
appointee and (c) what is the total cost to company in this regard? CW416E
Reply:
(1)(a) Alexkor has not employed a medical doctor. However, since 2007,
Alexkor has contracted a private company, Occupational Care South Africa
(Pty) Ltd (OCSA) to provide Occupational Health Medical services to the
company. OCSA has employed an Occupational Health nurse, an administrator,
a radiographer and an Occupational Health Medical Practitioner (OMP) to
provide services to Alexkor through the Occupational Health Clinic. These
personnel are based in Alexander Bay together with the former doctor who
resigned in 2010. In the absence of a doctor, Alexkor and OCSA were forced
to take interim measures in order to provide the required occupational
medical services to the employees of the company.
In order to continue the provision of health services in the area, OCSA
then requested the doctor from Springbok to provide Occupational Health
Services in Alexander bay through OCSA. The doctor provides medical
services in Alexander Bay at the Occupational health Clinic once a week for
a day. Furthermore, he is available for consultations at his offices in
Springbok and employees can consult with him telephonically.
(b-c) He is a fully qualified medical doctor registered at the Health
Professions Council of South Africa. In addition, he is also a fully
qualified Occupational Medical Practitioner (OMP) and a fully qualified
Dive Medical Practitioner.
(d) The monthly cost for the services provided by OCSA, which includes the
services of the OMP, Occupational Nurse, Administrator and Radiographer is
approximately R110 000.
(e) Alexkor intended to put the medical services out on tender but that
decision has since been reviewed and Alexkor is considering to appoint the
medical staff on a permanent basis.
(2) The required qualification for the OMP is qualification as a medical
doctor and a recognized qualification in Occupational Medicine. In addition
it requires that the doctor is qualified in Dive medicine (class 1).
(3) Yes. Alexkor employed a Chief Safety Officer; unfortunately he passed
away on 21 May 2011 in a motorcar accident. The position has been vacant
since then and Alexkor is in the process of recruiting a permanent officer.
(a)(i) The legal requirements for the position are as follows:
⢠Knowledge of the Health Mine and Safety Act
⢠At least level 1 First aid certificate
(a)(ii) The professional requirements for the position are as follows:
⢠Grade 12
⢠Certificate or Diploma in Health and Safety management
⢠Five years experience as Safety Officer in an opencast mine
⢠Computer literate
(b)The position has been vacant since the death of the previous officer.
Alexkor is in the process of recruiting a permanent officer with the
required qualifications as stipulated above.
(c)The total cost to the company for the position is yet to be finalized
based on the qualifications and experience of the new appointee.