Latest news with #JackBloom
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Hospital security bill soars to R2.5bn amid patient care crisis
The DA noted that PSIRA's annual rate increase stands at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced concern over soaring security costs at Gauteng public hospitals, which have skyrocketed from R655 million in 2022 to R2.54 billion in 2025 — nearly quadrupling in just three years. According to DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, the rising security expenditure is diverting much-needed funds from critical healthcare services. 'This squeezes out money needed to improve patient care,' said Bloom in a statement on Monday. Multi-million rand contracts under scrutiny Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed in a written reply to the provincial legislature that the increase is due to 'additional points of service provision' and higher rates regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). However, Bloom questioned the justification, noting that PSIRA's annual rate increase stands at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. 'As a percentage of the total Gauteng health budget, security costs have gone up from 1.1% in 2022 to 3.8% of this year's allocation of R66 billion,' he pointed out. Security bills for major hospitals are among the highest. Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, and Bertha Gxowa hospitals are paying R77 million, R72 million, and R26 million respectively to private security firms each year. In response to Bloom's inquiry, the department stated: 'The security assessment report conducted justifies the additional increase in the number of guards, and it is in line with the PSIRA rates.' ALSO READ: Mpumalanga primary school pupils treated for food poisoning after eating oranges Guards unpaid despite soaring costs Despite these massive outlays, some security workers are not being paid on time. At Tembisa Hospital, guards have gone on a go-slow, protesting after not being paid for three months. At George Mukhari Hospital, Mafoko Security Patrollers recently lost a court case over failing to pay provident fund contributions. Similar allegations have surfaced at Bertha Gxowa Hospital, where workers claim deductions are not reaching the required funds. Although the department insists it uses 'a monthly performance monitoring tool to ensure that security workers are paid on time and according to legislation,' Bloom said, 'this does not appear to be effective.' ALSO READ: Hospital horror: Cops in frantic search for two premature babies snatched from incubators Calls for accountability Bloom suspects widespread corruption. 'Many security companies seem to be grossly over-charging while underpaying their workers,' he said. The DA has vowed to continue pushing the provincial health department to review the escalating costs. 'Hospital patients suffer because of a lack of budget to fix staff shortages, long queues, and broken equipment,' Bloom warned. The Citizen has contacted the Gauteng Department of Health for further comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. NOW READ: Suspect allegedly confesses to Tembisa Hospital fire
TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Hospital laundry backlog: Interim and long-term fixes being implemented, department says
The Gauteng health department says it is assessing its laundry equipment, to determine which machines need to be replaced and repaired, to ensure the supply of clean linen at hospitals. This as it acknowledged a 'frequent breakdown of laundry machinery'. This week, patients were given plastic sheeting to lie on and have had to bring their own blankets to the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto, according to provincial legislature member Jack Bloom. Six months ago, large piles of laundry were seen at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. On Wednesday, the department said there was 'a backlog due to machinery breakdown challenges' at the Bheki Mlangeni hospital, which relies on laundry services from Bara. The provincial Dunswart Laundries in Boksburg was roped in to deal with the backlog. 'Additionally, the hospital management is exploring options to temporarily outsource laundry services to further address this issue,' the department said. MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the province has received R100m from the national department for the 2025/26 financial year to support its recapitalisation programme which aims to refurbish and replace outdated critical equipment and machinery in hospitals. 'Out of this amount, R50m is specifically set aside to address laundry machinery challenges across hospitals in the province. 'As part of this initiative, an assessment of the equipment and machinery has been conducted to determine which machines require refurbishing and which ones need to be replaced. This evaluation will ensure that we address the needs of facilities more effectively.'
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Suspicious fires rock Tembisa Hospital during SIU probe
Two fires hit Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital as investigators uncover R3 billion in graft. Amid a Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) probe into corruption at the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, the DA has called for a swift investigation into the possibility of arson as two fires ravaged the health institution. In what DA Gauteng shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom has described as 'suspicious', the hospital has twice been hit by a fire – destroying the accident and emergency section over the Easter weekend and the adjacent outpatients' department yesterday. 'Are there tenderpreneurs [entrepreneurs profiting on government tenders] who want to get the contracts for rebuilding the burnt sections?,' asked Bloom. Arson 'This cannot be ruled out as we have criminal syndicates who sabotage the water supply so they can benefit by providing water tankers,' he claimed. He said arson was identified as the cause of the devastating fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital four years ago, 'but no one has been caught'. 'Any foul play at Tembisa Hospital needs to be speedily identified and the culprits apprehended before further fires occur.' Bloom, who has visited the hospital, accompanied by members of the Gauteng legislature health oversight committee, said he saw the extent of the damage. ALSO READ: Health department addresses Tshwane clinic 'medicine shortages' 'In the interim, the accident and emergency section patients will be treated in the old family medicine section. But this should be a temporary measure, as it worsens the hospital's already severe overcrowding,' he said. R3 billion in taxpayer losses Taxpayer losses to Tembisa Hospital corruption networks, have risen to R3 billion, according to the SIU. It was first identified by whistle-blower Babita Deokaran, who was assassinated in a hit-style killing outside her Johannesburg home in 2021. 'Under no circumstances should the dysfunctional Gauteng department of infrastructure development be involved in this project,' said Bloom. 'It is notorious for nonperforming contracts, such as at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where fire repairs had to be taken over by the national health department and the Development Bank of South Africa. Compliance issues 'A competent project team should be appointed for Tembisa, working with the private sector to expedite the building work. 'Greater priority should be given to make all public hospitals comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act. 'None of the 37 hospitals have 100% compliance, with Tembisa only 79% compliant.' ALSO READ: Operations continue at Tembisa hospital after second fire in less than a week Gauteng department of health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said an investigation into the Tembisa Hospital fires was underway. 'Patients continue to receive care. We appeal to the public for patience, because we are not dealing with a normal situation. 'We also appeal to various organisations to allow space to health workers, to adapt to a new environment and give care to patients. We are willing to account and share information,' said Modiba. A litany of corruption incidents involving the provincial department of health: The Gauteng government spending almost R3 billion on Covid-related personal protective equipment (PPE); Prices inflated by up to 400%; The auditor-general finding 23 unlisted suppliers had delivered PPE to the Gauteng government worth R863 million; In 22 instances, PPE contracts worth R442 million were awarded to suppliers with no previous history of supplying PPE; and In six instances, overpricing led to a potential loss of R182 million. NOW READ: Patients evacuated as fire breaks out at Tembisa Hospital's emergency unit (VIDEO)
The South African
22-04-2025
- Health
- The South African
DA vows to push for accountability over Tembisa Hospital fire
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has demanded a speedy investigation and consequences for any identified failures that may have contributed to the fire at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni. A fire broke out at the hospital's emergency unit on Saturday, 20 April. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. However, the unit remains closed. The Gauteng Department of Health said, despite the incident, Tembisa Hospital remains operational, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. DA Gauteng spokesperson on health Jack Bloom said they're very grateful that disaster management services were able to prevent a monstrous tragedy by the speedy evacuation of patients. They should be commended. Bloom said unfortunately, there is a history of drawn-out investigations and lack of consequences after previous hospital fires. 'While arson has been identified as the cause of the devastating fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital five years ago, the hospital CEO was not fired despite identified deficiencies in a report by the State Security Agency. There has also been no progress in apprehending the arsonists,' Bloom said. Meanwhile, none of Gauteng's 37 public hospitals comply fully with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, with fire being the biggest risk, the DA also revealed. The party said that this is according to a recent Gauteng Health Department presentation to an oversight committee in the Gauteng Legislature. Sixteen hospitals scored less than 75% OHS compliance, mostly because of missing fire prevention and fire suppression equipment, and lack of fire signage and escape lighting. Notably, Tembisa Hospital only scored 72% OHS compliance, the same as the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, despite their previous fire. 'Tembisa Hospital has been mismanaged and looted by fishy contracts for years now, and it does not even have a permanent CEO. A top-class CEO is urgently needed to ensure that full services are reinstated, and measures are taken to alleviate the severe overcrowding that will be worsened by the fire. 'The DA in Gauteng will push for full accountability and speedy efforts to fix Tembisa Hospital,' Bloom added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
