gauteng, Author at Gauteng

November 21, 2018

Pipe burst floods Hillbrow clinic

by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health

A huge pipe burst last night has flooded the Hillbrow Community Health Centre, disrupting treatment of patients and destroying medicine worth millions of Rands.

I visited the clinic this morning and found frustrated staff and patients many of whom have been told to come back in two days’ time.

Water was being swept off the floor and many patient files have been damaged. The basement of the pharmacy was flooded, damaging medical supplies and rendering many medicines unusable.

Parts of the ceiling have fallen in certain places.

I was told that there have been long running plumbing issues and many staff worry about their safety in the building.

This is yet another example of poor maintenance in our health facilities by a failing ANC provincial government.

Meanwhile, the 900 patients who attend this clinic every day are adversely affected.

Click here and here to download the pictures..

November 20, 2018

Failing ANC illegally allocating EPWP opportunities

by Khume Ramulifho – DA Gauteng Team One Spokesperson on Access to Jobs and Education

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Gauteng Premier David Makhura to urgently intervene in the corrupt appointment of expanded public works programme (EPWP) workers in Winterveld.

EPWP jobs are supposed to be allocated to residents of the community who desperately need jobs, to give them a chance to get practical work experience, which is difficult to obtain. Instead the failing ANC is using this scheme to buy political favour and jobs.

Residents have taken to the streets in an outrage, burning tyres and barricading roads, claiming that the EPWP jobs are being used to reward cadres who campaigned for the failing ANC candidate during the recent by-election in Winterveld.

They are accusing the newly elected failing ANC Winterveld Councillor, Barbara Baloyi, of having compiled a list of individuals she had already selected to be EPWP employees, before the by-election even took place.

The ink was hardly dry on the paper on which she wrote her signature of acceptance as councillor when she illegally appointed these workers.

During his recent visit to the area, Premier David Makhura promised that 2000 Winterveld residents would benefit from EPWP job opportunities.

However, residents woke up this week to find people in orange uniforms, already appointed and roaming the streets. These newly appointed workers had been given contracts until 2021.

Residents say there was no transparency in the recruitment process and corruption is rife in Winterveld.

Only the DA can bring change that Builds One South Africa for All, through fair and equal access to jobs.

November 20, 2018

DA Gauteng calls for inquiry into state of mental healthcare facilities

by Bridget Masango – DA Gauteng Team One Spokesperson on Social Care and Cohesion; Gauteng’s Forgotten Communities

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit a request to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Nompi Nhlapo, to launch an urgent inquiry into the state of mental healthcare facilities.

This as 90 workers at the San Michele Home for the mentally disabled in Brakpan are protesting over a wage dispute.

One patient has died and the lives of more than 200 other patients in danger.

San Michele Home for the mentally challenged is a registered NPO, which has been in existence since 1945, relying mainly on government funding and donations from the public. Many of the patients in its care, who are between 18 and 84, have no family and no means of support other than that provided by the home.

It has also been brought to the DA’s attention that residents are not receiving any adult diapers or dry food from the Department of Health, making the daily provision to residents difficult.

Last year, San Michele approached the North Gauteng High Court to force the Gauteng Department of Health to pay more than R2-million owed to it in subsidies. Although the court ordered the department to pay up, which they subsequently did, the home finds itself in the same predicament.

The San Michele home is paid R4 100 per month per patient to cover food, salaries for staff members, medical treatment, toiletries, clothing and bedding.

The DA calls for the portfolio committee of health to speedily intervene in the current wage dispute at the home and ensure the home is paid all outstanding subsidies to keep its doors open.

Only the DA can bring change that Builds One South Africa for and ensures that Gauteng’s most vulnerable people are cared for.

November 19, 2018

Mohlakeng Economic Hub still not fully operational

by Solly Msimanga – DA Gauteng Premier Candidate

Today I conducted an oversight inspection of the Mohlakeng Economic Hub in Randfontein to see how it supports young entrepreneurs in the area. However, upon my arrival I discovered that the Economic Hub was not fully operational.

This hub is supposed to provide support to 36 businesses, however only two businesses are operating out of this Hub.

During the oversight inspection we were told by residents that they do not know what the purpose of the hub is, its function and role is and what opportunity and support it provides.

I also noted that there is strict security controlling the flow of people in and out. Community members are complaining that they are not allowed to enter the premises unless they have a car or know someone who works there.

However, we have been reliably informed that the failing ANC used the venue last Friday for a Party meeting.

During our inspection we witnessed ANC Councillors entering the premises – what their business was there is unknown, as it is under their poor leadership that the hub does not operate optimally.

There are very high levels of youth unemployment, yet there is a fully functioning library and computer lab that is locked and not being used, which means that the youth are unable to make use of these resources to access job opportunities.

Youth from the community were standing outside the premises trying to access the Wifi through the fence, so that they are able to access job opportunities.

What we witnessed here today is an example of how the failing ANC operates; if you are not connected you will find yourself on the outside.

This once again shows that the failing ANC is not serious about providing fair and equal access to real, long-term jobs and that they care little about the wellbeing of our people especially the youth.

I will be asking my colleagues in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to table further questions to ascertain by when the hub will be fully operational.

Only the DA can bring change to Gauteng that opens fair access to real, long-term jobs.

November 18, 2018

Inadequate budget for Esidimeni payouts

by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC

Gauteng Finance MEC Barbara Creecy has set aside R118 million in the Adjustment budget for the relatives of those who suffered in the Life Esidimeni tragedy, but this is inadequate to pay out all the claimants.

According to the Premier’s Office, they have received 200 new claims, most of which have been verified as being covered by the Arbitration ruling made by Justice Dikgang Moseneke.

Justice Moseneke ruled that R1 million be paid to each claimant for constitutional damages, R180 000 for emotional trauma, and R20 000 funeral expenses for those who died.

This means that R1.2 million will be paid to relatives of those who died, and R1 180 000 to relatives of patients who survived.

Payouts to 200 claimants would cost about R236 million, so the present allocation falls short by more than R100 million.

The Premier’s Office has promised that all claimants would be paid by the end of the year, but this is unlikely for nearly half the claimants because of the budget shortfall.

Premier David Makhura’s record is badly tarnished by the deaths of 144 mental health patients and he needs to ensure that all claims are paid before his term of office ends in May next year.

November 16, 2018

Department of Social Development must save drug shelter from closure

by Bridget Masango – DA Gauteng Team One Spokesperson on Social Care and Cohesion; Gauteng’s Forgotten Communities

This is an updated version of the statement released earlier.

Find attached a soundbite in English from Evangelist Veronica Montwedi, founder of the Greater Lights Shelter here.

A non-profit organisation (NPO) for young people whose lives are destroyed by drugs, the Greater Lights shelter, once hailed as the first of its kind in Pretoria West, is being forced to shut its doors after operating for just four years.

Yesterday, management from the shelter appeared in the Gauteng North High Court to plead for more time to find alternative accommodation after the court ordered their eviction from its rented premises for failing to pay rent.

I will invite the MEC of Social Development in Gauteng, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, to come and visit the shelter, to hear their plight and assist in keeping their doors open.

The shelter operates from a rented house in Buitekant Street and offers 12-week programmes for 27 recovering drug addicts at a time, and has treated more than 100 young people since 2014. Where will these young people go if the centre is closed?

Along with drug treatment services, Greater Lights provides medical therapy, psychosocial support, peer and spiritual counselling and interacts with drug users in Pretoria West, Daspoort, Hercules and Marabastad. Its services are offered in collaboration with the University of Pretoria and the City of Tshwane, under the Community Oriented Substance Use programme (COSUP).

Although the shelter is registered as an NPO, it does not receive funding from the Department of Social Development and has been unable to pay rent for the past eight months, at R12 000 per month.

As a result of the imminent closure of the shelter, its residents who need specialised help, will be left with an uncertain future.

Most of the teenage residents were found on the streets or referred to the shelter by desperate families. If the shelter closes down, it will leave these vulnerable young people with nowhere to go.

The Democratic Alliance is calling for the Department of Social Development to provide funding for the shelter to allow it to continue its good work.

November 16, 2018

Department of Social Development must save drug shelter from closure

y Bridget Masango – DA Gauteng Team One Spokesperson on Social Care and Cohesion; Gauteng’s Forgotten Communities

I will invite the MEC of Social Development in Gauteng, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, to come and visit the shelter, to hear their plight and assist in keeping their doors open.

Although the shelter is registered as an NPO, it does not receive funding from the Department of Social Development and has been unable to pay rent for the past eight months, at R12 000 per month.

As a result of the imminent closure of the shelter, its residents who need specialised help, will be left with an uncertain future.

Most of the teenage residents were found on the streets or referred to the shelter by desperate families. If the shelter closes down, it will leave these vulnerable young people with nowhere to go.

The Democratic Alliance is calling for the Department of Social Development to provide funding for the shelter to allow it to continue its good work.

November 15, 2018

Delays in processing visa and permit applications for foreign nationals concerning

by Solly Msimanga Cllr – DA Gauteng Premier Candidate

Today I, together with Jacques Julius MP, DA Team One SA spokesperson on Immigration conducted an oversight inspection to the VFS Global offices in Rivonia, Sandton.

During our inspection we discovered that there are delays in processing visa and permit applications by the Department of Home Affairs.

The Department of Home Affairs outsources the processing of the applications to VFS Global.

Some of the applicants we interacted with, raised concerns about the long waiting period whilst waiting for their applications to be processed by VFS Global and the delays by the Department of Home Affairs in adjudicating and approving visa and permit applications.

The management of VFS Global explained that their duty is only to receive the applications and ensure that all the required documents are attached to the application.

The final decision lies with the Department of Home Affairs and not with VFS Global.

Furthermore, the applicants indicated that they prefer VFS Global as the system is more efficient than the Department of Home Affairs.

The delays in processing these permits by Home Affairs has resulted in many foreign nationals who were in the country legally, been classified as illegal immigrants.

VFS Global only caters to those who are able to pay for the services, while those who cannot are forced to use the Department of Home Affairs to process their applications. This means that those who use Home Affairs will be affected not only by the corrupt system but also poor service and incompetence.

This clearly indicates that despite Home Affairs having outsourced part of the services that they once offered, they are still failing to process visa and permit applications within the stipulated time frames.

This is unacceptable and raises concerns and questions about the competency of Home Affairs to properly enforce immigration control and ensure that all foreign nationals who enter the country legally are given the proper documentation.

The DA believes that this has a negative impact on the economy as we are losing people with critical and scarce skills needed to help grow the economy.

November 13, 2018

DA welcomes Human Rights Commission visit to Rahima Moosa Hospital

by Jack Bloom MPL – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC

I commend the visit last week by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the deaths of 9 babies from Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) at the Rahima Moosa Hospital in west Johannesburg.

According to the SAHRC regional manager Buang Jones, the hospital management conceded that it has violated patients’ rights to quality healthcare.

I am concerned that the origin of the NEC outbreak has not yet been established, and it is likely that shortages of staff, equipment and beds contributed to the deaths.

This hospital needs to be upgraded to cope with 13 000 births every year despite not having an intensive care unit, a laboratory service or 24-hour blood bank on site.

The appointment of a permanent Hospital CEO should be speeded up as the previous CEO retired in June this year, and staff and equipment shortages should also be rectified.

It is unacceptable that mothers give birth in an environment of risk rather than top quality care.

I hope that real solutions emerge when the SAHRC subpoenas Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa and Head of Department Professor Mkhululi Lukhele to account for the conditions at this hospital.