Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo is about to have its water and lights cut off over a R53m bill for outstanding rates payments which has allegedly been wrongly directed by Polokwane municipality to the Health Department.
Health Department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana said by law, rates and taxes were the responsibility of the property owner, while the occupying departments took care of utility costs such as water and electricity, reports TimesLIVE.
He said the ownership of government property in this instance, “is in the hands of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development & Land Reform, and the Department of Public Works”.
“The department can confirm its utility cost account with the municipality is up to date,” he said.
The department had previously engaged the municipality about sending rates and taxes bills to the relevant department, he added.
“The switching off of electricity at the hospital will have dire consequences that will be felt by the … innocent poor and vulnerable, and yet the Health Department does not have control over the payment of rates and taxes and/or this particular debt.”
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