Slow Aircon Company Keeps Getting Gauteng Hospital Contracts

The Gauteng Infrastructure Development Department has awarded four contracts worth R22.5 million to an air-conditioning company despite their failure to complete any project on time.Jack Blom DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

Cool Breeze Air Conditioning and Refrigeration CC

This information concerning Cool Breeze Air Conditioning and Refrigeration CC has come to light in a written reply by Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

In the worst case, their incompetence led to all surgery being halted at the Pretoria West Hospital for two-and-half years because they took so long to do a 5 month job installing air-conditioning in the operating theatres.

Gauteng Hospitals Affected

Contracts awarded to this company are as follows:

  • Air-conditioning for Leratong Hospital theatres in 2010/11 for R7.995 million;
  • Upgrade of air-conditioners at neo-natal ICU at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2011/12 for R3 million;
  • Installation of chiller plant at Pretoria West Hospital in 2012/13 for R5.64 million; and
  • Additional oxygen and vacuum points at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital in 2013/14 for R5.8 million.

Unreliable Companies Getting Contracts

According to Mayathula-Khoza, penalties have been imposed and the company has been put on terms to complete the Pretoria West installation on a revised date.

My concern is that this unreliable company keeps getting contracts even though it has never finished any hospital contract on time, leading to major disruption for staff and patients.

I suspect that there may be a political connection that assists the company in getting contracts despite repeated non-performance.

This company should be barred from any further hospital contracts.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

082 333 4222

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