Security at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital should be fired after new theft

22 January 2023

The Democratic Alliance is calling for the security company at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital to be fired after yet another major theft of copper pipes.

Early this year on the 7/8 January weekend, R3 million of copper piping was stolen from above an operating theatre.

This follows the theft last year of copper cables worth R30 million, and equipment worth R200 000, from the hospital.

These high-value thefts occurred despite spending more than R30 million every year at this hospital which is supposed to have functioning security cameras at key locations as well.

I suspect there has been inside collusion with these thefts, but whatever the reason, the security company has to be held accountable.  

All Gauteng hospital security contracts were supposed to be advertised more than six years ago after the expiry of the previous two-year contracts, but these contracts have been irregularly extended on a month-by-month basis.

There is an urgent need for new security contracts at all Gauteng public hospitals to ensure cost-effective and efficient security to stop the thefts and protect staff and patients.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, 22 January 2023