Friday, 29 March, 2024
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Northern Cape Health splurges R11m on 25 TVs that stand unused

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union report that Northern Cape Health bought 25 flat-screen televisions at a cost of R11m (R300,000 each), with some of the televisions were being stored at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley while others were sent to the districts, although they were not operational.

One of the 25 flat-screen televisions – which were procured by Northern Cape Health at a cost of R11m – is standing unused in a corner of a room at the Professor ZK Matthews Hospital in Barkly West, according to an IoL report. Hospital staff, who embarked on a strike on Tuesday of last week, said that they had no idea why a brand-new television set had been delivered to the hospital when the money could be better used in purchasing much-needed supplies and basic necessities.

A “skeleton staff” is manning the hospital, which was left near empty after all patients, including maternity and casualty patients, were transported to Kimberley for medical treatment. The report says only four admitted patients, who are in a stable condition, are currently being cared for at Professor ZK Matthews Hospital.

[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/northern-cape/northern-cape-hospital-lacks-basic-necessities-but-dept-splurges-on-r300k-tv-30432879"]IoL News[/link]

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