Confirmation of a new Kempton Park hospital is a brutal lie, we demand timelines

17 November 2022

It is reckless of the Gauteng Department of Health and Wellness MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, to unashamedly continue to mislead the susceptible residents of Kempton Park that a new hospital will be built, yet there is no budget and timelines.

The department has several times promised to build this 300 bed new Kempton Park Hospital; however, we have never seen any commitment in the form of an official timeline or budget allocation.

Since 2014, there have been discussions that the department will demolish the old hospital for R1.5 billion or renovate it for R1.4 billion.

Time has passed and there has been no action and the promises have not yet materialised.

This hospital has been closed for over two decades and, it is alleged that it is being used for criminal activities, some people have taken an opportunity to use some of its sections for extra mural activities.

This happens while staff members from neighbouring clinics and hospitals are distressed by the influx of patients.

Currently, Tembisa Hospital is barely surviving because it is overcrowded and cannot contain the increasing number of patients. Patients are being turned away to die at home due to a shortage of beds.

The DA demands that MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko must put her words into action by outlining a specific timeline as to when will her department begin refurbishing Kempton Park Hospital and where the budget will come from.

The residents of Kempton Park and Tembisa are tired of these lies and empty promises. They now need visible action to access adequate healthcare services within their vicinity.

Issued by Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA Gauteng Constituency Head for Tembisa South, 17 November 2022