The DA in Gauteng urges the Gauteng Health Department to rebuild the fire-damaged sections of Tembisa Hospital with speed and cost-effectiveness, and zero tolerance for corruption.
I saw the extent of the damage to the Accident and Emergency Unit when I visited the hospital earlier this week with the Gauteng Legislature’s Health Oversight Committee.
There is now more damage with the second fire at the Outpatients section.
Relocating affected patients to other parts of the hospital will worsen the already severe overcrowding.
Under no circumstances should the dysfunctional Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) be involved in the rebuilding project. The GDID is notorious for non-performing contracts such as occurred at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, where fire repairs had to be taken over by the National Health Department and the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA).
A competent project team should be appointed for Tembisa Hospital that works with the private sector to expedite the building work.
The DA will scrutinise this process closely to ensure that money is spent effectively and efficiently to benefit patients in the shortest time.
We will be eagle-eyed as Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and Head of Department Lesiba Malotana have a dismal track record in preventing corruption and inefficiency.