Latest news with #Keeka
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the Division of Revenue Bill, or the budget, as presented by finance minister Enoch Godongwana on March 12, is withdrawn, with provinces set to table their budgets within two weeks of May 21.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
30-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA demands action against MKP for spreading election misinformation
The MKP is accused of misleading the public by continuing to claim last year's election results. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The DA in KwaZulu-Natal Legislature has accused Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) members of having an election hangover, urging the Speaker to reprimand the party for continuing to mislead the public about the rigging of last year's election results. In a statement issued by the DA's chief whip, Dr Imran Keeka, he accused the party of continuing to peddle lies about election results fraud. He said every time the party took to the podium for a debate, it started regurgitating from its disinformation handbook over the outcome of last year's general election - and even declaring, yet again, that it was rigged The DA said this is an abuse and breach of legislature privilege. As a result, the DA has written to the provincial Speaker for a formal ruling on the matter. 'The May 2024 elections were declared free and fair. The MKP leader's threat to pursue the matter in court was a flash-in-the-pan, which did not receive a moment before an Electoral Court magistrate. The DA is concerned that, despite the facts, KZN's MK members stand on a lawful platform and dispense false information. 'We are of the view that the legislature rules protect against creating false narratives within the House - and ultimately within the public domain. Lies such as those peddled by the MK have the potential to cause serious harm to our democratic progress,' said Keeka. The DA said South Africans need to work to protect their hard-won democracy and condemn any attempt to create unnecessary distrust, which could spiral into decreased voter turnouts and weakened democratic systems, where voter apathy is already rife. 'As part of KZN's Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA believes that while there is still a long way to go to fix what is broken, we cannot allow constitutional delinquents - by their admission - to deconstruct what is considered a functional democracy," concluded Keeka. The MKP hit back, saying it is the DA that is still bitter that it recently snatched its Ward 110 in Durban North areas, something the DA never dreamed would happen. The MKP deputy provincial coordinator, Shirley Willemse, said their party members in the legislature are not taking instructions from the DA, therefore, they would not be told by the DA what to say during debates in the House. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕
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.
