DA calls for urgent intervention in Helen Bishop crisis

6 August 2024

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested the Northern Cape Health Department to speed up engagements and finalization of the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Helen Bishop Orthopaedic After Care Home in Kimberley, which provides assistance to children and adults with disabilities.

Over the past few weeks, the level of care at the facility declined due to many staff members not being able to come to work because of the non-payment of salaries since May 2024. This was caused by the overdue review and renewal of the contract by the health department and subsequently, a delay in funding paid over to the NGO.

In the meantime, 60 patients are being looked after by a skeleton staff, who also have to do the laundry, prepare food, see to the day-to-day running of the facility and bathe and feed the patients. Staff members are also under stress due to the uncertainty of the situation and not being able to meet their personal financial obligations.

The DA accepts and appreciates that there are stringent regulations in respect of government funding that require strict compliance by organisations. However, poor planning and the delayed scheduling of engagements with the home, after the expiry of the contract, cannot justify the interruption of quality health care to the patients, nor the non-payment of salaries to critical caregivers.

The DA sent a letter to the acting HOD, Mr Mxolisi Mlatha, as far back as 4 June 2024, airing our concerns and requesting a speedy intervention yet, two months later, the challenges are exacerbated. We have subsequently tried to follow-up on the situation, without any response.

The DA will continue to monitor this situation and exert pressure on the department, until the crisis at the Helen Bishop home is resolved.

Issued by Lisa Schickerling, Norten Cape, DA 6 August 2024