EC health MEC’s ‘core staffer’ arrested for allegedly transporting and drinking alcohol

Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba’s core staff and ANC Youth League regional task team member Ayanda Matinise has been arrested for transporting alcohol using a state vehicle.

Ayanda Matinise was caught by the King William’s Town police on Saturday afternoon transporting alcohol in a state vehicle despite the ban on alcohol.

He was allegedly caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

The police also found more alcohol in the car’s boot.

Gomba in a statement said that she was shocked to hear that one of her important staff member allegedly took the department’s car without authorisation and also broke the law.

“I would like to put it on record that such behaviour will not be tolerated and if proven to be true, there will be serious consequences,” Gomba said.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal and has been proven to be a direct cause of car accidents and other violent crimes which end up resulting in trauma cases being reported to our health facilities.

“We welcome the speedy arrest of the staffer. We will act swiftly and with necessary decisiveness through our internal disciplinary processes as such behaviour is intolerable.”

Gomba said such behaviour is uncalled for and embarrassing.

“It is condemned with the contempt it deserves. We cannot have officials who break the law. Such scandals have no place in government and whenever they happen the people of the Eastern Cape must rest assured that the department will decisively act.

“This is an embarrassment because officials in government are supposed to lead by example and not be the ones who break the law,” Gomba said.