Picture: North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro 

By STAFF REPORTER

Many people were left gobsmacked on why the North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro ‘opted’ for a medical facility in Johannesburg after tested positive for COVID-19 leaving healthcare facilities in his own province. Now, allegations have surfaced that Mokgoro actually had something to be looked at in his lungs.

Most people say Mokgoro’s actions demonstrate a lack of confidence in provincial facilities. However, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha was quick to pour cold water on the matter and said Mokgoro’s case was exceptional.

“Our people will forever suspect that we are serving them sub-standard services. He did not opt for Gauteng, even the hospitalised situation was precautionary as he was not necessarily sick to be hospitalised. Remember, it was a day when we lost comrade Kegakilwe, so we took a precautionary decision as health that he must do his isolation in a health facility.

“He should have done it at home, but the reason he went to Gauteng is because centrally, there was something to be looked at in the lungs. So, this was a precautionary decision, not because he was sick. We wanted to avoid a situation where he isolates home and complications developed, and later it should be a rush-rush from home to that facility,” said Sambatha.

He said the late MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Kegakilwe who died a week ago due to COVID-19 complications was hospitalised at a medical facility in Vryburg and later transferred to Klerksdorp. North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi, and MEC for Public Works and Roads, Saliva Molapisi also tested positive for COVID-19 respectively.

“Both Kegakilwe and Molapisi tested in Mahikeng, which is local. Molapisi got isolated at his home in Potchefstroom. Five MECs, ANC IPC spokesperson, Kenny Morolong, and Zakes Tolo were in a state quarantine site in Rustenburg.

“We tested at Job Shimankane Tabane hospital in Rustenburg and used NHLS testing kit which is used by the public. This was a message to people that we encourage them to go and get tested at a mobile lab using NHLS. We do not want to have a situation where we have the services for the elite, which is better, and then you have services for the majority that is appalling,” he said.

He added that Mokgoro would have ‘opted’ for Gauteng, but it is not an element of a declaration of no confidence because the whole executive remained in the province. Sambatha further said they want to close the gap that people are talking about and give them confidence.

Meanwhile, Mokgoro’ spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi said: “The Premier is in good health and he will be back at work on Tuesday next week upon completion of his isolation. Furthermore, the allegations are not true and in addition, the health of any individual is his private matter unless he/she decides to make it public.

“Thirdly, the Premier was in voluntary quarantine and South Africa is a unitary state where one can go to any medical facility in the country.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the North West said Mokgoro was hospitalised at a facility in Johannesburg, citing the “overburdened” at the North West health facilities as the reason for being admitted in Gauteng. The DA provincial spokesperson on Health, Gavin Edwards said Mokgoro’s decision highlights the fact that the North West province is by no means ready to deal with the anticipated surge of Covid-19 patients.

“It is not surprising that the Premier would choose to rather be hospitalised in another province, but it is ironic that he would choose a province that is itself overburdened with high numbers of Covid-19 cases. This demonstrates a lack of confidence in provincial facilities, which hardly instills hope to people who have no option but to make use of North West health facilities.

“Again, it goes to show that government officials and political leaders abuse their positions to secure the best quality of services, while ordinary citizens have to contend with poor and substandard services. The Premier missed an opportunity to set an example for other politicians and public representatives to experience first-hand what ordinary citizens are faced with, but we wish him a speedy recovery,” Edwards said.

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By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha said they will revamp the Vryburg old hospital and turned it into a quarantine site. Sambatha visited the Taung District Hospital and Joe Morolong Hospital in Vryburg on Thursday to monitor compliance at those healthcare facilities.

“This was an internal visit where I checked how compliant we are as the department. It is always imperative to ensure that there is compliance at our healthcare facilities. So, I am grateful even though I have realised that not everyone is compliant from where I have gone.

“There are internal challenges to some, but there is an element of a good working relationship between employees, managers, and unions. The general challenge is the increasing number of COVID-19 infections or transmission towards our employees. When the number increases, it creates a pressure of availability of staff,” he said.

Sambatha further said it is startling to see the number of infected staff members exceeding the number of patients who tested positive for COVID-19. He outlines that it is clear that there is a sign of laxity among healthcare workers.

“We have an element where staff members testing positive, but their contact person/s are not patients. This means that these people get exposed to the coronavirus outside their workplace. We need to run a very tight internal awareness campaign to educate or caution them about the risks.

“Our employees need to know that it is not only at the workplace where they can get exposed to the virus. The majority of people have that tendency of organising and attending parties. They need to know that they will bring the virus to the health facilities,” said Sambatha.

He also added that the department has experienced a challenge concerning the Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs). Sambatha said there is a delay of PPEs at some healthcare facilities.

“We are working around the clock to ensure that we are well-prepared as the country is heading to the peak of the virus. At the end of May 2020, we had less than 1000 reported COVID-19 cases. However, things took a sharp turn and we experienced a bulk of new cases since 5 June 2020.

“Currently, the province is above 11 000 cases. Our planning must never be relied on what we are seeing now, but we need to plan for the worst. If that period of surge arrives, it must find us ready. If you read into our numbers, there is very minimal admission to our facilities,” he said.

Sambatha said most deaths in the province were people with comorbidities.  North West has 11 891 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2694 recoveries, and 48 deaths thus far.

“Our people continue to be ignorant and we have realised that 99.9% of deaths are people with comorbidities. So, we urge them to stay away from any system that might jeopardise their health. It is important for people to stay home, practice social distancing, wash their hands and sanitize at all times.

“We planning to have around 2000 COVID-19 dedicated beds in various health facilities and we are working towards revamping the old Vryburg hospital to be used as an isolation facility in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati,” said Sambatha.

He also encouraged a good working relationship between the healthcare facilities management and the public. This comes after more healthcare facilities being shut down due to positive reported cases among staff members. He said the management need to provide alternative mobile clinics to avoid lack of service delivery.

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