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The Citizen
03-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Shot JMPD officer allegedly denied care over city's R35m debt, now fighting for life
A JMPD officer is fighting for his life at a government hospital after he was shot on duty on May 1, the Southern Courier reports. The officer, who is part of the Tactical Response Unit, was investigating a case of extortion when he was shot. He was allegedly denied urgent, life-saving treatment at Netcare Millpark Hospital because the city owes the hospital. Sarah Wissler, chairperson of the Section 79 Public Safety Committee at the City of Johannesburg, said he had to sit for six hours waiting to be treated. 'The City of Johannesburg owes the facility more than R35m. Because of this unresolved debt, the officer was refused emergency medical attention and transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where he waited for hours before being stabilised. He is now in ICU, fighting for his life. This is an unforgivable betrayal of those who risk their lives to keep our city safe,' explained Wissler. The City of Johannesburg responds In a statement issued by the City of Johannesburg, it stated that the city is disappointed and investigating the matter. 'The City of Johannesburg is deeply saddened and distressed by the incident involving our JMPD officer who was injured while on duty. We wish to clarify that there have been inaccuracies reported, and we are actively engaging with Netcare Milpark Hospital to resolve the outstanding medical bills,' said Nthatisi Modingoane from the City. 'Furthermore, we are extremely disappointed to learn that a distressed officer was reportedly turned away from Netcare Milpark Hospital. The health and well-being of our officers who risk their lives daily to serve our residents are of utmost importance.' Modingoane said it is unacceptable that an officer in urgent need of medical attention would be prevented from receiving prompt care. According to him, the city has had several meetings with Netcare Milpark Hospital management to discuss engagement processes in line with the relevant legislation. 'It is also important to highlight the fact that there are other role players such as the department of labour who need to process the injury on duty claims. 'The city has taken this matter seriously and has launched an internal investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident. We are reviewing our processes and interactions with Netcare to prevent such occurrences in the future. A detailed report outlining our findings and any necessary corrective measures will be shared once the investigation is complete. 'Although the City of Johannesburg has a certificate of exemption in terms of section 84 of COID Act, we do not have a delegation in terms of section 62 of COID Act. This compels CoJ to report all the alleged COID claims to the Department of Labour Compensation Commissioner for adjudication. 'Thereafter, if liability is accepted, the office of compensation commissioner informs CoJ and the medical expenses related to a particular claim are processed in line with gazetted tariffs by CoJ. Modingoane said their thoughts are with the injured officer and his family during this challenging time. 'We are committed to ensuring he receives the best possible care and support. The CoJ remains dedicated to supporting our JMPD officers and ensuring they have access to the services they need.' Wissler said she has written to the city manager and MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services about this matter. 'I have been to the hospital. I went to see the family and spoke to the officer's wife. She is holding up. The officer is in surgery again. He has lost part of his intestines and putting the colostomy back so that he doesn't get any worse. He is still on machines; one of them being a ventilator,' Wissler said. She also mentioned that the city must prioritise supply chain issues. The Southern Courier has reached out to Netcare for comment. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Netcare denies turning away shot JMPD officer as City of Joburg disputes R35 million debt claim
Netcare Milpark Hospital has denied claims that it turned away a critically injured JMPD officer, due to unpaid City debt. Netcare Hospital Division has dismissed claims that its Netcare Milpark Hospital turned away a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer who was shot while on duty, allegedly due to a R35 million debt owed by the City of Johannesburg. This follows allegations made by Public Safety Committee Chairperson Sarah Wissler, who said the officer was refused medical attention and transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, where he waited for hours before receiving care. 'Last night, one of our JMPD officers was shot while on duty. When taken to Netcare Milpark Hospital, he was denied emergency care because the City of Johannesburg owes the hospital R35 million,' Wissler said in a statement on Thursday. According to Wissler the officer, now in critical condition, was moved to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where he received delayed treatment and remains in the intensive care unit. 'As chairperson of the Public Safety Committee, I am appalled. Our officers put their lives on the line for us daily. They deserve immediate care, not bureaucracy and delays,' she said. Wissler said she escalated the matter to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and called for the outstanding debt to be settled urgently. In response, Netcare reaffirmed its commitment to providing critical care to all individuals, including members of the JMPD, and refuted claims that the officer was denied emergency care. Netcare confirmed that on the night of April 30, a JMPD officer received immediate, lifesaving treatment at Netcare Milpark Hospital. 'Following established global trauma protocols for Priority One patients—those with the most time-sensitive, potentially life-threatening injuries—the officer underwent comprehensive screening and was stabilised before being transferred to another appropriate facility under the guidance of a leading trauma surgeon,' said Dr Erich Bock, managing director of Netcare's Hospital Division. 'As always, our priority as healthcare professionals is the wellbeing of our patients, and we remain fully committed to providing only the highest level of emergency care to every individual who comes through our doors. That wholehearted dedication extends to JMPD officers and others who risk their lives to protect our communities.' Bock added that the officer later underwent a procedure at another Netcare facility, where he continues to receive medical attention. 'We are doing everything in our power to support our patient and will continue to closely monitor his progress while providing full support to him, his family, and his colleagues during this challenging time,' he said. While Netcare acknowledged that payments are outstanding, including fees owed to independent private practitioners working at Milpark and other facilities, the hospital emphasised that emergency services are provided in good faith, and patient care always comes first. 'In many emergency situations, patients are transferred between public and private facilities only after they have been stabilised,' Bock said. 'We rely on fair and timely compensation to ensure the sustainability of our operations and the continued availability of expert medical professionals.' He added that discussions with the City are ongoing and expressed hope for a swift resolution. The City of Johannesburg also issued a statement expressing sadness over the incident, which occurred Wednesday during a police pursuit. During the chase, a suspect opened fire, striking the officer twice in the upper body. The officer was airlifted to Milpark Hospital for emergency care. However, the City said it was dismayed by the hospital's refusal to treat him, allegedly due to an outstanding R35 million debt. 'The city wishes to clarify and refute these claims, stating that the current outstanding bill for Milpark Hospital stands at R3.9 million, with payments being processed and paid weekly,' the city said in a statement. Officials said the city has held multiple meetings with Netcare management to explain its payment process and reiterated its commitment to settling all obligations. 'The conduct of healthcare professionals present at the hospital on the day of the incident is deemed unprofessional and unethical,' the city said. 'Such conduct is unacceptable, especially in circumstances involving critically injured emergency personnel.' The City said it plans to lodge a formal complaint with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) regarding the incident. It has also tasked the Acting City Manager with assembling a team of senior executives to urgently meet with hospital management and instructed the Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) to launch an internal probe to determine whether any City officials acted negligently. In addition, the City said a formal complaint would be submitted to the Speaker and Chief Whip of Council regarding the councillor who made public statements without verifying the facts. Meanwhile, police confirmed that an individual believed to be an acquaintance of the suspect was arrested. A firearm and ammunition were recovered. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
The South African
02-05-2025
- The South African
Shot officer denied emergency care over Joburg's R35m debt
Milpark Hospital allegedly refused to treat a JMPD officer shot on duty because the City of Johannesburg had not paid its debt. According to IOL , Public Safety Committee Chairperson Sarah Wissler said the hospital refused to treat the officer on Wednesday night because the City reportedly owes it R35 million. The incident left the critically injured officer at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Where he waited for hours before receiving treatment. 'Last night, one of our JMPD officers was shot while on duty. When taken to Netcare Milpark Hospital, he was denied emergency care because the City of Joburg owes the hospital R35 million.' Wissler said in a statement on Thursday 1 May. Wissler said the officer eventually received treatment and remains in the intensive care unit. She expressed outrage at the delay and urged the city to settle its debts. 'Our officers put their lives on the line every day. They deserve immediate medical attention, not red tape and delays,' she said. She added that she had escalated the matter to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and called for a broader investigation into unpaid accounts that may be affecting emergency services. In a statement, the City of Johannesburg denied owing R35 million and said the current amount due to Milpark Hospital is R3.9 million. It added that the City processes payments weekly and has held discussions with the hospital to address billing and payment timelines. 'The conduct of healthcare professionals at Milpark Hospital is unacceptable,' the city said. 'They refused to treat a critically injured officer. A complaint will be lodged with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).' The city said its acting city manager has assembled a team to meet urgently with hospital executives. The Group Forensic and Investigation Services will launch an internal probe to determine whether city officials were at fault. The city criticised the release of unverified information to the media and said it would refer the matter to the Speaker and Chief Whip of Council. The suspect shot the officer twice in the upper body during a pursuit. Police arrested a person believed to be the suspect's associate and recovered a firearm. The city said it hopes for the officer's full and speedy recovery. 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.
Eyewitness News
02-05-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
CoJ reviewing processes with Milpark Hospital to ensure no injured JMPD officer refused treatment again
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg is currently engaging the Netcare Milpark Hospital to resolve matters related to outstanding medical bills. This comes after a Johannesburg metro police officer who was shot while on duty was refused treatment at the medical facility. The metro has criticised the hospital's actions, saying it shouldn't have turned away the critically injured officer. On Thursday, the chairperson of public safety committee, Sarah Wissler, slammed the city on her X account about the alleged R35 million debt it had with Netcare. She noted that this debt put the officers' life at risk. The City of Johannesburg said it was reviewing its processes with the hospital to ensure the incident was never repeated. However, the metro's spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane, has refuted claims that they owe the hospital R35 million. "The city is dismayed that Milpark Hospital refused to provide necessary medical care to the officer, citing an outstanding debt of R35 million owed by the city. The city wishes to refute the claim and clarify what really is the status. The current outstanding bill for Milpark Hospital stands at R3.9 million, with payments being processed and paid weekly." Modingoane also mentioned that once investigations were complete, they would release their findings.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
JMPD officer shot on duty turned away from Milpark Hospital due to City of Joburg's R35 million debt
A JMPD officer critically injured in the line of duty was refused emergency treatment at Netcare Milpark Hospital, allegedly due to the City of Johannesburg's unpaid R35 million debt, A Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer who was shot while on duty was turned away for emergency treatment at Netcare Milpark Hospital because the City of Joburg allegedly owes the hospital R35 million. This is according to Public Safety Committee Chairperson Sarah Wissler. She said the officer was refused medical attention and transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, where he waited for hours before receiving care. 'Last night, one of our JMPD officers was shot while on duty. When taken to Netcare Milpark Hospital, he was denied emergency care because the City of Joburg owes the hospital R35 million,' Wissler said in a statement on Thursday. The officer, now in critical condition, was moved to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where he received delayed treatment and is currently in the intensive care unit. 'As chairperson of the Public Safety Committee, I am appalled. Our officers put their lives on the line for us daily. They deserve immediate care, not bureaucracy and delays,' Wissler said. She said she had escalated the matter to the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and called for the outstanding debt to be urgently settled. 'I am also calling for a full investigation into all outstanding liabilities that affect emergency services. We cannot let another officer or resident suffer because of the City's failure to pay its suppliers. Enough is enough.'
