GAUTENG HOSPITALS AT RISK AS SECURITY GUARDS PROTEST LACK OF PAYMENT

Security guards at two Gauteng public hospitals are refusing to search visitors because their security companies have not been paid. Last Friday guards at the George Mukhari Hospital in north west Gauteng went on a go slow, allowing anybody to enter or exit without any form of control.

This puts patients and staff at risk, and makes it more likely that equipment will be stolen. Ka-Lethabo security company is owed about R3 million by the Gauteng Health Department, and is unable to pay its guards their Christmas bonuses..

At the Germiston hospital, security officers have been on strike for more than a week. The gates are open and people enter and leave as they please. I suspect that other hospitals face similar problems.

This is a serious situation that requires immediate action by the department to ensure that hospitals are safe by paying the security companies as soon as possible.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, December 19 2011

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