Johannesburg – The ANC’s provincial working committee (PWC) has received a report on progress towards an agreement between the McCord hospital board and the KwaZulu-Natal health department to keep the hospital running, the ANC said on Tuesday.

ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Senzo Mkhize said in a statement that the provincial government team led by health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo and finance MEC Ina Cronje had engaged the hospital board and the provincial health department in a bid to keep the hospital open.

“The PWC instructed the provincial government team to reach an amicable solution to avoid further disruption at the hospital,” said Mkhize.

Earlier this year, the hospital was slated for closure after the department opted not to renew its annual subsidy.

At the end of January, Dhlomo announced that the department had made an offer to take over the hospital.

Mkhize said the ANC was concerned that the hospital board decided to unilaterally announce the closure of the hospital while negotiations were still in progress.

“We view this as irresponsible and we call on the board to commit itself to these crucial negotiations to ensure that an agreement is signed to avoid closing Durban’s 103-year-old hospital,” said Mkhize.

– SAPA