Latest news with #ImranKeeka
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
KZN health department says it owes service providers R1.7bn
The KwaZulu-Natal department of health is in a shambles and owes service providers R1.7bn. This comes after the provincial department was in the news for alleged medicine shortages. On Monday scores of service providers embarked on a protest march demanding their money. Some said the department had not paid them for more than a year. They included SMMEs, which are — according to legislation — supposed to be paid within a month of rendering services. DA KZN spokesperson on health Dr Imran Keeka called for consequences. 'The DA notes with concern that businesses in KwaZulu-Natal are owed an estimated R1.7bn by the provincial department of health. The staggering sum is revealed in response to a DA written parliamentary question,' said Keeka. He said the reply further indicated that, of this, R1.33bn fell within the 60-day to 90-day payment period. There were 1,519 unpaid invoices in the over 90-day period, amounting to just more than R71m. 'The DA notes that KZN health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi, has always been open and forthright about her department's financial woes during portfolio committee meetings. However, such a situation — the nonpayment of suppliers on time — should not have arisen in the first place or to the point where they are affecting services., Keeka said the concern arising out of the reply was that it was very possible that small and medium sized companies in KwaZulu-Natal were the worst affected. 'Equally concerning is that the MEC and acting HOD intimated, during the same meetings, that some service providers, while paid, had not paid their staff. This had led to protests, in some instances implicating the department. However, what happens within companies once the department has concluded its business with them is beyond its control.' Keeka said the department had unfortunately adopted a 'take from Peter to pay Paul' approach in a bid to resolve some of the payment issues. 'This appears to have left some companies struggling more than others. Again, it particularly affects small businesses. Regrettably, this resulted in several suppliers gathering at the department's Pietermaritzburg head office on Monday, demanding payment.' Currently the Division of Revenue Bill, or the budget, as presented by finance minister Enoch Godongwana on March 12, is withdrawn, with provinces set to table their budgets within two weeks of May 21. Once the province's budget is tabled and certainty exists, it is expected that the situation may turn around. Keeka described the situation as dire and in need of urgent attention. The KZN health department communications unit did not respond to queries.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Urgent intervention needed at Jonah G. Vaughn Centre amid neglect and mismanagement allegations
A damning oversight visit has revealed shocking conditions at the Jonah G. Vaughn Centre which falls under the Durban and Coastal Mental Health (DCMH), prompting urgent calls for intervention from the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature's Health Portfolio Committee chairperson. Health Portfolio Committee chairperson Dr Imran Keeka conducted a visit to the centre. Keeka said the facility, which provides care for individuals with mental health challenges, was found to be without electricity, leaving users to bathe in cold water despite the plummeting temperatures in KwaZulu-Natal. There was reportedly no food available except for a donation received on the day of the visit, while staff told officials that nearly all residents have been losing weight and the level of care has 'rapidly deteriorated.' Despite reported visits and interventions from the Departments of Health and Social Development, both of which fund the facility there appears to have been no lasting improvement, he said. Staff at the facility say they are receiving little to no support from their superiors. Keeka has written an urgent letter to the MEC for Health, warning that failure to act could lead to a humanitarian disaster. 'Are they being slowly starved like those at Life Esidimeni, and are we waiting for such a situation to land on our doorstep?' he asked. 'Then we will all rush to express condolences when, instead, intervention is urgent?' Keeka raised serious allegations in the letter, including claims of a 'don't care attitude' from the CEO and possible looting of up to R20 million from the facility. He stated that there are suspicions that both current and former board members may have used the facility's finances for personal gain. 'I write to call for your urgent interventions herein, both in terms of all powers vested in your offices as well as in those of your accounting officers,' Keeka stated. "Place an alert on the matters that I am raising herein, lest the matters spiral out of control.' He has also called for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the allegations. The provincial Departments of Health and Social Development has been approached for comment on the allegations.
