Gauteng hospital services are unlikely to improve this year as the Gauteng Health Department is trying to pay off an astounding R8 billion still owing from the previous year.
According to an official written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, the total amount of accruals at the end of the 2024/35 financial year which ended on 31 March is R8.069 billion.
The Department says these accruals are meant to be treated as a “first charge” in the current financial year.
This means that 12% of this year’s R67 billion budget will pay for last year’s debts.
It’s an unacceptable situation that has led to a crippling staff and equipment freeze, and hundreds of unpaid companies, some of whom are withholding vital supplies.
Such colossal mismanagement should lead to the dismissal of Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and Head of Department Lesiba Malotana.
While Premier Lesufi has recently replaced the heads of several departments for non-performance and failing lifestyle audits, Malotana seems to have very high-level protection despite manifold health scandals and a SIU investigation into allegations he received a multimillion bribe to approve a contract.
According to the DA’s Cancer Scandal Tracker, it is now 164 days since the Gauteng High Court ruled the department’s failure to provide cancer treatment was unlawful and unconstitutional, but Premier Lesufi has still not fired the Health MEC and her department head.
The DA in Gauteng will relentlessly challenge Premier Lesufi to replace the department’s top leadership with competent people who can provide decent healthcare in our clinics and hospitals.