GAUTENG'S R141 MILLION HOSPITAL SECURITY RIP-OFF
Security costs for Gauteng's 34 state hospitals have more than tripled in three years, from R42 million in 2006, to R141 million in the present financial year.
This is revealed in a written reply to my questions by Gauteng MEC Qedani Mahlangu.
The most dramatic rise is at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. In 2006, 30 guards were employed, costing R1.75 million whereas R30 million is now spent for 117 guards.
R20 million is being spent this year at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for 135 guards, up from R7.5 million spent on 119 guards two years ago.
Some other examples include:
Dr Yusuf Dadoo - R1.9 million on 17 guards, up from R229 000 on 7 guards in 2006.
Dr George Mukhari - R8.8 million on 101 guards, up from R1.3 million for 7 guards in 2006.
Far East Rand Hospital - R3.4 million for 32 guards, up from R1.2 million for 28 guards in 2006.
Helen Joseph - R5.9 million for 54 guards, up from R3.4 million for 42 guards in 2006.
Steve Biko Academic - R8.4 million on 84 guards, up from R5 million for 68 guards in 2006.
Tshwane District Hospital - R4.3 million on 36 guards, up from R1.9 million on 25 guards in 2006.
The total number of guards at all the hospitals has gone up from 662 in 2006 to 1114, which is a small army.
According to Mahlangu, the increase in costs is due to a security review and compliance with the higher rates for guards as regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulations Act (PSIRA).
Most guards are Grade D, which is about R2000 a month. Adding in a fair amount for other costs, 1114 guards should not cost more than R40 million a year.
I think these security contracts are a giant rip-off. Even worse, many of the contracts are for three years, so it is difficult to renegotiate them.
While security needed to be tightened after various crime incidents at hospitals, we are not getting good value for the vast amount that we are spending.
There are all sorts of anomalies. At Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, for instance, the number of guards has gone down this year from 47 to 36, yet security costs have more than doubled from R1.8 million to R3.9 million.
I fail to see why security at Charlotte Maxeke is R10 million more expensive than at Chris Hani Bara which has more guards and is vastly more spread out with many buildings.
I suspect that the three-year security contracts were deliberated inflated to pay for kick-backs.
The MEC discloses in her reply that "two meetings were held and negotiations are underway with service providers to scale down the costs, and also to re-align and phase out excess guards".
I suggest a forensic audit into the awarding of these contracts as it is well-known that there are corrupt players in this industry.
Statement issued by Jack Bloom, MPL, Democratic Alliance Gauteng health spokesman, August 27 2009
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