ANC says DA's MEC Botha must take responsibility

The Western Cape ANC says Health MEC Theuns Botha must rise to the occasion and take full responsibility for the maladministration and poor service delivery at the Gugulethu Community Health Centre.

"MEC Botha regularly boasts about what he personally does to improve service delivery. Yet, the latest report by the Public Protector found the opposite in the instance where by its own initiative it investigated the dire situation in Gugulethu. Now the time for talk is over. Botha must make sure the work is done properly," says Mcebisi Skwatsha, provincial legislature spokesperson on health.

He added: "Botha and his party portray themselves as service delivery agents, but in a number of cases Adv. Thuli Madonsela, the Public Protector, found poor service delivery, maladministration and poor sanitation. The DA believes in Rule of Law, but allows the law to be broken when it comes to these poor people. Botha must take up his responsibilities and take hold of the reigns to ensure that his department cleans up its act in order to deliver acceptable levels of service to the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable."

In her report (see here - PDF) the Public Protector make reference to drunken staff (which was personally found on duty by her investigation team), undue delays, poor signage, staff discipline, cleanliness and control over quality health services at the centre. Various breaches of the Constitution and other legislation (like the National Health Act) were found.

The ANC welcomes the remedial action proposed by the Public Protector, which includes proper signage in all the Western Cape's official languages, cleaning, assistance and monitoring to trauma patients, steps taken to prevent alcohol use, the buying of air-conditioning or fans, fix a leaking pipe in the ladies toilets and sanitary requirements be seen to, floor tiles with holes in the reception be replaced as well as that the City of Cape Town must clean up the area around the centre. The head of the department of health must regularly monitor the management, administration and service delivery until all deficiencies have been addressed.

Statement issued by Mcebisi Skwatsha, ANC Western Cape, September 30 2011

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