Despite the controversy over buying hospital food from Limpopo, the Gauteng Health Department is now buying food from fishy companies in the Free State as well.
In a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says a food supply contract used by the Free State Provincial Government was awarded in Gauteng on 1 June 2024.
Food has been bought from the following companies not based in Gauteng:
• Carved Business Solutions, based in Welkom, Free State
• M P Ngophe Caterers JV Batsi Hospitality, based in Thaba nchu, Free State
• Baikemetseng Bomme General Trading, based in Bloemfontein, Free State
According to the Department, the reason for buying food from other provinces “is due to the department not having a contract in place after the transversal contract had lapsed … The department engaged in the Free State contract as a provisional measure to ensure the uninterrupted supply of food-related items.”
This is the same lame excuse given last year for buying groceries from Limpopo.
A wide range of food has been bought from the three Free State companies, including bread, cooking oil, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, and various tinned products.
The DA is asking why a loaf of brown bread is bought for R20.68 from Carved Business Solutions in Welkom, which does not seem to be a registered food company.
There were also suspicious companies in the Limpopo contract, including a business training company selling milk and chicken.
Early last year, hospitals in Gauteng ran out of basic food items. Why is it so difficult for the department to have reliable and cost-effective food contracts with local companies, instead of buying bread from Welkom?
We suspect corruption as well as incompetence.
Meanwhile, hospital patients suffer because money is wasted, and they get poor food.
The DA believes all fishy contracts should be investigated, and they should be replaced with contracts awarded fairly and transparently to ensure best value for money in running our public hospitals.