While some Gauteng public hospitals have shown improvement and come close to 100% compliance with Occupational Health and Safety legislation, many still fall short on
fire suppression equipment and fire detection systems.
This is revealed in a report from the Gauteng Health Department at a Gauteng Legislature oversight committee meeting on Friday last week.
Five hospitals score over 90% compliance, 15 hospitals score between 80 and 99%, while 11 hospitals had 70 to 79% scores.
The worst is Jubilee Hospital with a miserable 52%, caused by poor fire safety, no running water, non-compliance at the generator room and for medical gas, and deficient housekeeping on cleanliness and securing of assets. They have been issued with three prohibition notices covering fire issues, cleaning of the kitchen extractor fan, and medical gas inappropriately stored in the kitchen.
The Mamelodi Hospital and the University of Pretoria Dental scored best with 98% compliance.
It is concerning that the Steve Biko and George Mukhari hospitals used to be in the over-90% category but now score 85% and 84%, respectively. The Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospitals score only 79%.
The Thelle Mogoerane, Kopanong and Pholosong hospitals have a lowly 70% compliance, and Rahima Moosa Hospital needs to improve its 75% score.
We need to know why so many hospitals are fire risks when two companies linked to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s sons were paid R46.7 million in the last three years for fire detection and suppression in Gauteng hospitals.
Modipadi Nokaneng and the Ngwato and Manzi Group (NMG) have been linked to Mashatile’s sons Thabiso Mashatile and Tinyiko Mvelase. They are claiming an additional R44 million for work performed.
The DA in Gauteng is demanding an investigation into the work done by these companies when fire safety compliance in hospitals is still so low. The safety of staff and patients should not be compromised by dodgy contractors.
A DA-led administration would ensure that companies are chosen on merit for all goods and services, with follow-up measures to monitor their performance.