Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
25 January 2024 | 15:36 CAT

Reports from inside Tembisa Hospital necessitate an immediate oversight visit. Image/ DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed anger at a shocking display of constitutional rights after its leaders, Solly Msimanga, Jack Bloom and Refiloe Ntsekhe, were denied access at the Tembisa Hospital during an unannounced oversight visit yesterday.

The DA says Health MEC Nomanthu Nkomo Ralehoko made the instruction.

“This denial follows distressing reports received by the Democratic Alliance (DA) alleging that patients were compelled to sleep in tents and on the floor,” the DA said in a statement.

Radio Islam International discussed the DA’s reasons for the unannounced oversight visit with DA Gauteng Leader Solly Msimanga.

“There are quite a number of reasons. We have been following up on the Tembisa hospital for a long time which has been embroidered in a series of corruption,” says Msimango.

Tembisa Hospital has become synonymous with illegality, marked by fraudulent transactions that have cost the institution nearly R1 billion. Shockingly, this includes the procurement of plastic buckets at an exorbitant cost of almost R10,000 each. The corruption plaguing Tembisa Hospital is not victimless; it directly impacts patients who bear the brunt, often at the cost of their lives, within a failing healthcare system.

The DA pointed out that ” the severity of corruption is further highlighted by the tragic fate of whistleblowers like Babbitt Deokaran, who paid the ultimate price for exposing rampant corruption within the department. ”

“The DA will initiate proceedings against Health MEC Ralehoko for obstructing the constitutional mandate of MPLs to conduct oversight. The widespread corruption and maladministration within our Gauteng health system must be brought to light. Additionally, we will be pressing Parliament to account for the absence of any arrests thus far, despite the well-documented corruption outlined in the SIU report, which has severely impacted Tembisa Hospital,” the DA concluded.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Solly Msimango.