Hundreds of low-voltage diesel generators donated by China are apparently being stored unused at Wentworth Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, pending distribution to provinces – but officials say they are unsuitable for use in local health facilities.
IOL reports that they were part of a consignment – received by Electricity & Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in November 2023 and August 2024 – that was shipped to Durban harbour.
However, although they were meant to help alleviate the impacts of load shedding in the delivery of services in clinics, schools and courts, they don’t have a high enough voltage to power clinics, according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi in response to parliamentary questions from Rise Mzansi leader and MP Songezo Zibi
Zibi has questioned why the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health was wanting additional funding to buy new generators while the donated ones were gathering dust and not being used
Zibi said China had donated about 100 generators – of a batch of about 300 – to the Department to assist clinics and hospitals during inclement weather and load shedding.
“These generators remain unused and stored at Wentworth Hospital,” he said, “raising concerns about financial mismanagement. Why have not been distributed and how much are they worth?”
In his written response Motsoaledi said the Department of Health did not receive 100 generators – only 22.
The donation resulted from a deal between the Ministry of the Department of Electricity & Energy and China, with 328 generators earmarked for the Health sector – across all provinces.
“They were stored at Wentworth because of convenience, as the point of entry was the Durban harbour and the hospital had the necessary space for storage.”
Motsoaledi added that the generators had not been distributed because their capacity was less than 6 KiloVolt-Amperes (KVA). The minimum KVA requirement for a small size clinic is 20 KVA.
“The engineers advised that the generators were not suitable for installation against existing electrical reticulation as they would immediately fail at commissioning,” he said.
The generators allocated specifically to the Health sector were estimated as being worth R3m out of a total value of R160m for the total number of generators donated for all sectors of government.
He said over the past three years, KwaZulu-Natal had bought 494 generators costing R297.8m
“The stored and unused stock at Wentworth is meant to be used by other provinces… the KZN Department of Health stock is not part of those in storage,” he said, adding that the province had already allocated its allotment of 22 generators from the donation to its disaster management unit.
Motsoaledi said that while the powers to institute any consequence management in the province rested with the Premier and the Heads of Department, none has taken place because no official ordered the generators.
“They were donated,” he said.
“The national Department of Health is liaising with the Department of Electricity & Energy …for a potential reallocation to a sector where they will be fit for purpose.”
IOL article – Donated diesel generators lie idle at Wentworth Hospital (Open access)
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