Telephones cut at Gauteng Health Because of non-payment  

11 September 2017

Telephones at the Gauteng Health Head Office have been cut because Telkom has not been paid for many months.

It is now impossible to get hold of staff at the head office using a land line, and the staff cannot phone out either. They have to rely on cellphones, which are expensive compared to a landline.

If you phone the Gauteng Health office number at 011 355 3000, you get this message: "The number you have dialed is presently not in service."

The Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Jabulani has also had its 011 241 5600 number cut because of non-payment. 

Anxious relatives cannot contact the hospital to find out how their loved ones are doing.

In March this year the department owed R1.234 billion in late payments to 808 companies that had not been paid within the legally required period of 30 days.

The department has also come under increased pressure because of court-ordered medical negligence payouts.

Furniture from the head office was recently removed by the Sheriff of the Court because a R6.2 million medical negligence award was not paid.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa downplays the crisis as suppliers cut services and staff are unable to do their jobs because they don't have computers, desks and chairs, and cannot use telephone landlines.

More services will be cut with terrible consequences if the department doesn't solve its financial woes soon.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 11 September 2017