Public Protector turns attention to Gauteng hospitals

As indicated at the weekend, the inspection of public healthcare facilities continues this week following Deputy Public Protector Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka’s successful tour of four hospitals in the Eastern Cape earlier in the month to observe first-hand the challenges that staff and the public alike grapple with regarding the provision of services.

This time around the focus is on Gauteng, where Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane will join Adv. Gcaleka in the inspection of hospitals reserved, upgraded or capacitated specifically for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

They will visit Lillian Ngoyi and Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, Charlotte Maxeke Academic in Johannesburg as well as Jubilee and George Mukhari hospitals in Hammanskraal and Ga-Rankuwa respectively.

Through the inspection, Adv. Mkhwebane and Adv. Gcaleka, who will be accompanied by investigators from the Gauteng office, seek to examine the infrastructure that has been developed specifically for the fight against the pandemic, look closely at the capacity of the facilities, establish if the facilities are coping with demand for services and whether frontline workers have sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

In July, Gauteng leapfrogged the Western Cape as the country’s CIVOD-19 hotspot. As at Sunday, August 16, 2020, the province had a total of 199 635 cases – nearly double the Western Cape figures.

In recent weeks, the provincial government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus have been marred by allegations of tender irregularities in respect of the procurement of PPE. This prompted the Gauteng office of the Public Protector to launch an own-initiative investigation into matter.

On 4 and 5 August 2020, Adv. Gcaleka and a team of investigators inspected Uitenhage, Livingstone, Mthatha General and Nessie Knight hospitals, where they came across an assortment of challenges, which appeared to be undermining the provision of healthcare services.

A report on their findings will be ready in 60 days. It will be shared with relevant authorities with a view to remedying the identified shortcomings.

Details of the Gauteng inspections are as follows:

Date : Tuesday, 18 August 2020
Time : 10:00
Venue : Jubilee Hospital, Hammanskraal

Date : Tuesday, 18 August 2020
Time : 14:00
Venue : George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Garankuwa

The visits on Wednesday are scheduled as follows:

Date : Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Time : 10:00
Venue : Chris Hani Baragwanath, Soweto

Date : Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Time : 14:00
Venue : Lillian Ngoyi Hospital, Diepkloof

On Thursday, the following hospitals will be inspected:

Date : Thursday, 20 August 2020
Time : 10:00
Venue : Steve Biko Academic Hospital

Date : Thursday, 20 August 2020
Time : 14:00
Venue :Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital

Members of the media are invited to cover the inspection. RSVP with Mr Salvation Mokgatlhe via WhatsApp on 064 017 3597 or call/sms 081 420 3954