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GBV victims suffer due to shortage of VEF in Gauteng

There is a severe shortage of victim empowerment facilities (VEFs) in Gauteng, while gender-based violence (GBV) runs rife in communities across the province.

Most of our VEFs are not adequately equipped with much-needed resources to support the victims of GBV.

Of the 143 police stations across the province, most of their VEFs are not victim-friendly. They do not have the necessary staff and resources, including rape test kits, beds, specific rooms to engage with the victims in a private space and social workers. The police officers are also not adequately trained to deal with the issues of GBV.

The DA, therefore, tabled a motion on gender-based violence in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), demanding that the Gauteng Provincial Government must increase the number of VEF and ensure that they are well-equipped and accessible to the victims.

Below are the speeches delivered during today’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) motion debate in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL):

Gauteng Department of Social Development:

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Gauteng Department of Social Development:

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Department of Community Safety:

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DA to assess the impact of loadshedding at Tembisa Hospital

Today, Wednesday,1 March 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Tembisa Political Head, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL will conduct an oversight inspection at Tembisa Hospital.

The purpose of the oversight is to assess the impact of the load-shedding at the hospital.

This follows allegations that there have been several deaths of minors reported at the hospital as a result of load-shedding. It is further alleged that the hospital has been unable to secure sufficient fuel for its generator and the parents of the deceased minors have not been informed of these challenges.

The DA will engage with the hospital management to ascertain whether these allegations are true or false and get further insight on the challenges that the hospital is faced daily.

We will also determine the impact of load-shedding in hindering this hospital from delivering quality and adequate health care services.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date: 1 March 2023

Time: 10:00-11:00

Venue: Tembisa Hospital, 539-541 Reverend R.T.J. Namane Dr, Hospital View, Tembisa, 1632.

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DA to assess the impact of loadshedding at Tembisa Hospital

Tomorrow, Wednesday,1 March 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Tembisa Political Head, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL will conduct an oversight inspection at Tembisa Hospital.

The purpose of the oversight is to assess the impact of the load-shedding at the hospital.

This follows allegations that there have been several deaths of minors reported at the hospital as a result of load-shedding. It is further alleged that the hospital has been unable to secure sufficient fuel for its generator and the parents of the deceased minors have been informed of these challenges.

The DA will engage with the hospital management to ascertain whether these allegations are true or false and get further insight into the challenges that the hospital is faced daily.

We will also determine the impact of load-shedding in hindering this hospital from delivering quality and adequate health care services.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date: 1 March 2023

Time: 10:00-11:00

Venue: Tembisa Hospital, 539-541 Reverend R.T.J. Namane Dr, Hospital View, Tembisa, 1632.

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Tembisa schools suffer due to overcrowding, while GDE abandons a school with 50 classrooms

Learners in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni continue to be taught in overcrowded classrooms which are not conducive to learning and teaching, while the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has abandoned a school with 50 classrooms.

The abandoned school is situated at Birch Acres and the value of the project is R36 million.

The DA is concerned that the longer this school remains abandoned it will become vulnerable to vandalism and looting of the infrastructure.

During the DA’s oversight inspection at the school, we were disappointed to discover that there was no construction taking place at the site.

We have been reliably informed that the contractor abandoned the project without paying its employees and the sub-contractors. The reasons why the contractor abandoned the project are still unknown.

Community members have raised their frustration with the DA stating that their children struggle to get school admissions, while there is an incomplete school at their disposal that can help ease overcrowding in schools around the area.

See images here, here and here.

This incomplete brick-and-mortar school is one of many incomplete school projects across the province.

Failure to complete the construction of schools within the required timelines has resulted in severe overcrowding in schools and some learners being forced to commute to and from school to access quality education. This is costing parents more in terms of transport fees.

For far too long, the DA has been proposing that the GDE should take over the building of schools from the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management which has been failing to finish the projects on time and within budget.

The DA will write to the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi demanding answers on why GDE has not been given the mandate to build its own schools as it has a good track record of handling its own projects.

We will also be tabling questions to the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain why the contractor abandoned the project and when will the project be completed.

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DA to assess progress concerning clearing the DNA testing backlog to ensure justice for the victims of GBV

As part of the 16 Days of Activism for No violence against women and children campaign, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow MEC for Community Safety, Crezane Bosch MPL and the DA’s Shadow MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL and DA’s Spokesperson for Community Safety, Ruhan Robinson MPL will on Monday, 28 November 2022, conduct an oversight inspection at the SAPS Forensic Science Lab in Pretoria.

The purpose of the oversight is to assess why there has been a delay by the SAPS in clearing the DNA backlog in the province.

Earlier this year Minister of Police, Bheki Cele committed to clearing the DNA backlog by October 2022, but that did not happen. Cele has further announced in the recently held Gender-Based Violence (GBV) summit that the DNA testing backlog will be cleared by January 2023.

Despite the SAPS reporting that the national DNA backlog status has been reduced by 38.54%, from 143 795 in the first quarter to 88 374 in the second quarter of this year, the prosecution of many cases of crimes against women and children continues to be delayed due to DNA backlog.

There are 14 015 cases nationally which were prioritized for analysis since the inception of the NPA and SAPS DNA project in 2021. For Gauteng South, there are 1790 and in Gauteng North, there are 758 requests for DNA testing.

The DNA backlog has resulted in rapists being allowed to walk free while the lives of vulnerable victims are left shattered. This is unacceptable, a DNA test delayed is a justice delayed.

The DA will ascertain the progress concerning the clearing of the DNA backlogs and the challenges causing the delays.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the oversight inspections are as follows:

Date: 28 November 2022

Time: 10h00-11h00

Place: SAPS Forensic Science Lab, 730 Pretorius St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007

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DA to assess progress concerning clearing the DNA testing backlog to ensure justice for the victims of GBV

As part of the 16 Days of Activism for No violence against women and children campaign, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow MEC for Community Safety, Crezane Bosch MPL and the DA’s Shadow MEC for Social Development, Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL and the DA’s Spokesperson for Community Safety, Ruhan Robinson MPL will on Monday, 28 November 2022, conduct an oversight inspection at the SAPS Forensic Science Lab in Pretoria.

The purpose of the oversight is to assess why there has been a delay by the SAPS in clearing the DNA backlog in the province.

Earlier this year Minister of Police, Bheki Cele committed to clearing the DNA backlog by October 2022, but that did not happen. Cele has further announced in the recently held Gender-Based Violence (GBV) summit that the DNA testing backlog will be cleared by January 2023.

Despite the SAPS reporting that the national DNA backlog status has been reduced by 38.54%, from 143 795 in the first quarter to 88 374 in the second quarter of this year, the prosecution of many cases of crimes against women and children continues to be delayed due to DNA backlog.

There are 14 015 cases nationally which were prioritized for analysis since the inception of the NPA and SAPS DNA project in 2021. For Gauteng South, there are 1790 and in Gauteng North, there are 758 requests for DNA testing.

The DNA backlog has resulted in rapists being allowed to walk free while the lives of vulnerable victims are left shattered. This is unacceptable, a DNA test delayed is a justice delayed.

The DA will ascertain the progress concerning the clearing of the DNA backlogs and the challenges causing the delays.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the oversight inspections are as follows:

Date: 28 November 2022

Time: 10h00-11h00

Place: SAPS Forensic Science Lab, 730 Pretorius St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007

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Confirmation of a new Kempton Park hospital is a brutal lie, we demand timelines

It is reckless of the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, to unashamedly continue to mislead the susceptible residents of Kempton Park that a new hospital will be built, yet there is no budget and timelines.

The department has several times promised to build this 300-bed new Kempton Park Hospital; however, we have never seen any commitment in the form of an official timeline or budget allocation.

Since 2014, there have been discussions that the department will demolish the old hospital for R1.5 billion or renovate it for R1.4 billion.

Time has passed and there has been no action and the promises have not yet materialised.

This hospital has been closed for over two decades and, it is alleged that it is being used for criminal activities, some people have taken an opportunity to use some of its sections for extra mural activities.

This happens while staff members from neighbouring clinics and hospitals are distressed by the influx of patients.

Currently, Tembisa Hospital is barely surviving because it is overcrowded and cannot contain the increasing number of patients. Patients are being turned away to die at home due to a shortage of beds.

The DA demands that MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko must put her words into action by outlining a specific timeline as to when will her department begin refurbishing Kempton Park Hospital and where the budget will come from.

The residents of Kempton Park and Tembisa are tired of these lies and empty promises. They now need visible action to access adequate healthcare services within their vicinity.

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Delays in the reopening of Kempton Park Hospital contribute to overcrowding at Tembisa Hospital

Delays on the reopening of the abandoned Kempton Park Hospital are not only depriving vulnerable residents of access to healthcare services within their vicinity. Still, they have put a severe strain on neighbouring facilities like Tembisa Hospital.

I have raised concerns and continuously demanded answers as to why Kempton Park Hospital remains closed when it should alleviate pressure on Tembisa Hospital.

There may not have been enough funds to reopen the whole hospital, however, the Gauteng Department of Health should use a phased approach.

I also requested the department to disclose the structural integrity report, which is yet to be seen. However, the department responded to confirm that the hospital was built in 1978 and has a lifespan of 100 years.

The delays in refurbishing and reopening Kempton Hospital have resulted in overcrowding at Tembisa and Edenvale Hospitals.

Apart from this, Kempton Park hospital is allegedly being used for criminal and immoral activities instead of being refurbished and re-opened to benefit residents who are in dire need of access to healthcare services.

Patients are left to sleep in wheelchairs and wait for days at causality due to the shortage of beds. Last week, Gogo Sarah Ndou passed away in her home after being discharged at Tembisa Hospital without being given proper healthcare due to a shortage of beds.

Tembisa and Kempton residents cannot continue to suffer at the hands of the provincial Health Department.

I demand that the Gauteng MEC for Heath, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, fast-track the reopening of the Kempton Park Hospital. Tembisa and Edenvale Hospitals are not coping with the overcrowding.

I will continue to put pressure on the department to reopen the Kempton Park Hospital. We will not sit and leave this much-needed facility like this hospital at the hands of criminals and opportunists.

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Shortage of beds and negligence allegedly led to a patient death at Tembisa Hospital

Tembisa Hospital continues to deprive sick and vulnerable people of access to adequate healthcare services due to overcrowding and a lack of beds to admit patients.

Last week, 8 November 2022, I received a frantic phone call from a resident concerning her grandmother, Sarah Dimakatso Ndou, aged 67 who was admitted at Tembisa Hospital.

It is alleged that Gogo Ndou was left to sleep in a wheelchair overnight at the casualty unit. Her family visited her the following day and were shocked to discover that she had not yet, been given any medical assistance.

Through my intervention with the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Ralehoko, Gogo Ndou was finally allocated a bed. However, the family informed me that the hospital had discharged her even though she was visibly ill because of a shortage of beds at the hospital.

Several attempts were made to request her readmission but failed.

I further visited the hospital to assess why the hospital could not accommodate the patient and I witnessed a terrible situation as the hospital is overcrowded.

Several patients could not be accommodated into wards and were still in casualty; some had been in casualty for more than three days.

It is unfortunate that Gogo Ndou sadly passed away. Tembisa Hospital is in a dire state and needs more beds to be able to provide our people with adequate healthcare services.

This hospital in its bid to address its overcrowding challenge, cannot carelessly discharge patients who need to be hospitalised.

This is the same Tembisa Hospital that was exposed for paying over R200 million for face towels, buying leather seats, and paying over R2000 for skinny jeans whilst patients do not have sufficient beds.

I will also be writing to the MEC to demand an immediate investigation to be conducted regarding the circumstances under which Gogo Ndou was discharged and seek accountability to be taken by those who neglected and discharged her immaturely.

I have always insisted that Kempton Park hospital be reopened and will continue to do so. When it is reopened, it will reduce the pressure on Tembisa Hospital.

Tembisa residents cannot continue to be traumatized by the reoccurring rapid deaths of their loved ones.

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DA Pressure Leads to the Opening of Tembisa Rabasotho SASSA office

The pressure exerted by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to ensure that Tembisa residents have access to a conducive SASSA office has led to the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu permitting a dual procurement process to get a new office.

This means that the DA’s efforts have yielded positive results as the Tembisa residents were exposed to appalling conditions when accessing social services at the Rabasotho SASSA offices.

The office is too small and could not accommodate the officials and residents coming to access social services. The residents are forced to queue outside because there is no waiting area.

The DA submitted a petition with over 2000 signatures to the National Assembly demanding the upgrades of the Rabasotho SASSA office.

Furthermore, last week, 14 September 2022, the DA’s activist Nombulelo Dubula, a resident from Ward 7 Tembisa made a presentation to the Social Development Portfolio Committee in the National Assembly about the state of the Rabasotho SASSA office and demanded urgent intervention.

While we welcome that Tembisa Rabasotho residents will be getting a new SASSA office, this is long overdue and raises the question of why residents must complain first before the government can fix the infrastructure. This is unacceptable as a caring government will ensure that public offices are accessible and conducive to rendering services.

The DA will monitor the progress of procuring the new offices so that the process is not delayed, and our people receive the services they deserve. The DA is the only party that gets things done and cares about ensuring good governance, transparency, and accountability.