The Gauteng Health Department’s bizarre choice of food suppliers continues as it is revealed that 23 Gauteng hospitals bought R7.1 million worth of groceries from Free State companies.
According to Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, the hospitals procured a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as milk, mayonnaise, tea, coffee, oatmeal, sugar, jam, yoghurt, maize meal, flour, margarine, and cooking oil.
Hospitals all over Gauteng obtained food from the Free State, including as far north as the Mamelodi, Steve Biko, Pretoria West and Weskoppies hospitals. Food was even transported all the way to the George Mukhari Hospital in Garankuwa.
The department says they have piggybacked on Limpopo and Free State provincial government food contracts because they have not been able to tie up contracts with local suppliers.
This is a poor excuse. I suspect corruption is involved and someone is getting a kickback from fishy companies in Limpopo and Gauteng, some of which are not even food companies.
The DA calls for a review of hospital food contracts to ensure reliable and cost-effective delivery from the highly competitive local market.