Note to editors: Please find the attached soundbite by Madeleine Hicklin MPL.
Theatre and maternity units at Carletonvile Hospital are non-operational due to the water crisis putting patients’ lives in danger. This crisis stems from Merafong Local Municipality’s water supply having been throttled by 20% over non-payment of R1.6 billion bill to Rand Water.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng made this shocking discovery during the Gauteng Health and Wellness Portfolio Committee oversight visit at Carletonville Hospital earlier this week. We also found that the hospital’s efforts to maintain a full reservoir had fallen short, resulting in the water level dropping below 20%, which ultimately halted the pumping of water.
This situation is unbearable; there is no Central Sterilisation Supply Department (CSSD) to sterilise instruments. Outpatient and emergency departments lack toilet facilities, while inpatients have limited access to water and restrooms, relying on manual delivery. Food services have been disrupted, making dishwashing a significant challenge.
Furthermore, nursing staff are compelled to juggle their healthcare-giving responsibilities with the additional task of collecting water from tankers and carrying it up five flights of stairs to meet patient’s needs.
The DA Gauteng demands Premier Panyaza Lesufi resolve the water crisis affecting patients and health professionals in this hospital. Heads must roll and this adds to the reasons why Premier Lesufi must fire the MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and Head of Department, Lesiba Malotana, because they have failed to provide alternatives to ensure this hospital does not run out of water.
Furthermore, should the matter not be resolved, the DA Gauteng will escalate this to the South African Human Rights Commission to hold Premier Lesufi accountable for violating patients’ rights and access to water.
A DA-led provincial government in Gauteng will insist on implementing proper financial controls to ensure that every municipality pays its bills, preventing any disruptions to service delivery, particularly in health services.