Page 10 - Jack Bloom News Today

Already hard hit by power blackouts, operations at health facilities in Gauteng and other provinces have been further disrupted by cable theft.

Already bogged down by loadshedding, operations at various health facilities in Gauteng and some other provinces have also been disrupted due to cable theft, creating another layer of risk for patients and healthcare workers.

The Gauteng health department has irregularly spent more than R700m in the past financial year on security for the province's hospitals, as it admitted to spending R59m on month-to-month contracts.

Th Hawks spokesman, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said a team of detectives, armed with a search warrant, went to those premises in the morning as part of ongoing investigation.

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has voiced concern about the R59 million that is spent monthly on security contracts at public health facilities.



Almost R710 million is spent irregularly every year on security contracts for Gauteng hospitals, the DA has said, with the provincial health department now probing the alleged irregular expenditure.

According to the Gauteng department of health, 600 people with disabilities are awaiting wheelchairs at public hospitals across the country.

The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital is reported to be owing R276 million to about 2675 suppliers for over a year.

The Democratic Alliance’s shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom has welcomed the Health Ombuds report, which revealed that the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital is unsafe. The Health Ombud was tasked to investigate the facility following public outcry, and allegations made by Bloom and Dr Tim de Maayer.

The Health Ombud's report found that 40% of the hospital's patients are foreign nationals which had resulted in overcrowding at facilities.