In a bid to quell any potential backlash, Netcare Group has clarified that Winston Mullany, who posted controversial anti-Gaza comments on social media, has never been an employee of the healthcare organisation.
Winston Mullany ruffles feathers with anti-Gaza extremism, Netcare reacts
On Wednesday, Netcare Group released a statement, noting the inflammatory comments made by Mullany on a Facebook post, where he, in no uncertain terms, suggested extreme measures against Gaza, which sparked immediate backlash and concern.
In his own words, Mullany suggested that the Israeli government, which has been engaged in a widely condemned genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, “should simply wipe Gaza off the face of the map.”
“Problem solved. Then you won’t have to deal with back and forth comments on the world stage,” he commented.
In response to the uproar, Netcare Group swiftly issued a statement distancing itself from Mullany.
The group’s spokesperson, Lynne O’Connor, confirmed that Mullany was never an employee of Netcare or Netcare 911.
“He attended a three- month Ambulance Emergency Assistance course at the Netcare Group’s training academy in 2016, the healthcare group confirmed today,” O’Connor clarified.
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Netcare emphasised that Mullany’s views do not reflect the healthcare organisation’s principles.
She added:
“The uninformed and inhumane views the individual expressed are completely at odds with our core values of upholding the sanctity of human life.”
Netcare Group’s decision to clear the air was an attempt to address the misrepresentation by Mullany, who had previously posted photos in Netcare-branded clothing and next to a Netcare 911 ambulance.
In response to the backlash, Netcare has attempted to contact Mullany directly and reported his comment to Facebook.
The healthcare group is also considering legal options to respond to this situation.
It’s worth noting that since the conflict began on 7 October 2023, there have been significant casualties and displacement.
Over 15 000 Palestinians have been killed, and a considerable portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. In contrast, the conflict has also seen over 1 200 Israeli casualties, with more than 100 out of 240 hostages still held by Hamas.