The Democratic Alliance's Shadow Health MEC in Gauteng is to quizz the provincial health department on why it spent R500m on a data storage facility. The Times quotes DP MPL Jack Bloom as saying: "I am astonished by Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa's admission that her department spent R500m on an unneeded data-storage facility. She reportedly said that the department procured V-Block‚ a massive data-storage facility‚ even though the department could have used the storage facility at the e-governance department."
The report says that Ramokgopa's remarks‚ were made recently as she visited the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus.
Bloom said he would demand answers about the wasted taxpayers' money. "There needs to be accountability for this incredible waste of money… R500m could have built 12 clinics or hired a thousand nurses for a year‚ or used for many other badly needed purposes‚ including purchase of new machinery and repair of dilapidated hospitals‚" he said.
"We need to know who authorised it and who benefited from it‚ and what accountability there will be‚ including disciplinary action and possible criminal charges."
Ramokgopa's remarks followed recent reports of the province's hospitals being crippled by staff shortages and crumbling infrastructure.
The report says Ramokgopa's revelations were also startling in the context of the Life Esidimeni tragedy‚ which saw patients with mental illnesses being transferred from Life Esidimeni facilities to NGOs to cut costs. More than 100 patients died.
[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-11-08-r500m-wasted-da-demands-answers-from-gauteng-health-dept/"]The Times report[/link]