DA CONDEMNS BARA BAN ON MUSLIM-JEWISH AID GROUP

The Democratic Alliance condemns the ban on a Muslim-Jewish volunteer group who were helping disabled and sick children at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto.

According to a report, the Bara Alliance of Blessed Youth (BABY) have been barred from the hospital after its communication department disapproved of a news reporter who visited the hospital to write on their activities (see here).

The BABY project consists of pupils from King David High School Linksfield and the Lenasia Muslim School who volunteer to provide comfort, friendship, entertainment and food to disabled and sick patients at the hospital.

I have written to Gauteng Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe to intervene so that this group can continue their good work in assisting patients at the hospital (see letter below).

This is not the first time that the hospital's Chief Executive Officer Johanna More has barred a charity group for petty and malicious reasons. She prefers to deny reality instead of admitting to problems and allowing others to help.

The hospital's behaviour in this matter is absolutely appalling, and I hope that the ban on this group is reversed speedily.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health spokesman, April 1 2012

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