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By OBAKENG MAJE

North West Department of Health’s provincial offices will allegedly need over R100 million for the refurbishment. This startling revelation was made during the media briefing in Mahikeng on Tuesday.

This comes after a stand-off between employees and the management. Employees evacuated the dilapidating building indefinitely complaining that the building is unsafe.

One of employees, Kgomotso Setshogo said the building is structurally and constructionally unsafe. She said the building does not provide adequate means of egress and is dangerous to human life.

“The building’s ventilation is not working and it does not have windows. The management continue to disregard our concern even though the Department of Labour declared it inhabitable. We urge the management to adhere to that ordinance and do the right thing,” she said.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha who admitted that the building is hazardous, said there is a remedial action plan in place to address those challenges.

“We admit that there are some challenges at the building as it is inhabitable. There are some visible cracks on it. We have engaged the North West Public Works department to address the matter. We can confirm that the advert for the refurbishment of the building will be out soon.

“Our approach to occupational health is guided by the Occupational Health and Safety Act no. 85 of 1993 which guides both the employers and employees to develop a safe and healthy work culture,” said Sambatha.

He further said this is a culture in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment is respected at all levels, where government, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties and where the principle of prevention is accorded the highest priority.

“There have been disruptions of normal work operations in the provincial offices due to a number of complaints by our own employees who believed that the working environment is not safe. Our employees have complained about among others lack of social distancing/congestion, lack of ventilation, non-compliant infrastructure and non-disclosure of COVID-19 cases in the workplace,” he said. 

Sambatha added that the department has ensured the appointment of the Provincial OHS steering committee, with different members of the SMS/Executive officers and the trade unions being members of that committee. He said the committee has so far been meeting on a monthly basis and five meetings have so far been held and compliance officers have been presenting to the committee at large. 

“Different measures have been put in place here in the Provincial Office Park to comply with the OHS Act.  The committee has been established and appointed accordingly by the Head of the Department.

“Since the establishment of the committee, the induction of all committee members on OHSA was conducted. We provided training on OHS, fire safety, first aid, risk assessment and inspection of all directorates,” said Sambatha.

He said the partitioning was removed at the pharmaceuticals to allow more fresh air into the area after employees complained about non-working ventilation. Sambatha added that the air conditions were relocated and are now in good operating order.

“The department has attended to all the issues raised by the Department of Labour.  All the gas leaks on the air conditioner systems have been attended to.  The issue concerning the building structure of the Office Park is also being attended to. An engineer was appointed and assessment was provided by the Structural Engineer,” said Sambatha.

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By STAFF REPORTER

North West Health Department continues to be marred with corruption, fraud, maladministration, and tender irregularities allegations. This comes after four service providers that render security services accused the department of tender irregularities worth R900 million.

Ka-Mayaluza (PTY) Limited, Hotline Security CC, Idas Security Guard CC t/a Sidas Security and Phiriphiri Security Services (PTY) Limited took the matter to the North West High Court in Mahikeng after accusing the department of tampering with the bid documents in order to disqualify them from the process.

According to their court application, the department officials allegedly tampered with the bid adjudication proceedings by tearing out some of the pages from the bid documents in order to disqualify them from the process.

Now, the Democratic Alliance provincial spokesperson on Health, Gavin Edwards said they will write to the chairperson of Health Portfolio committee in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Priscilla Williams and Chair of Chairs, Mmoloki Cwaile requesting them to urgently call the Administrator for Department of Health, Jeanette Hunter and MEC Madoda Sambatha to account for the irregular awarding of security tenders totalling R900 million before the committee.

“The Administrator, MEC, Head of Department and Director of Supply Chain Management must answer for the irregular awarding, present a breakdown of how the amount of R900 million was arrived at and also indicate the consequence management measures that will ensure accountability.

“Any person guilty of interfering with the bidding process must face disciplinary action and as the Accounting Officer, the Administrator must be formally investigated,” Edwards said.

He said it earlier this year, the department was in the news for irregularly awarding a coal tender to the chairperson of the bid adjudication committee, William Kaipa who was formerly employed by Sibusisiwe Contractors, which was among the companies that won a tender of supplying coal to hospitals.

Edwards added that tender irregularities, medication shortages, irregular suspension of staff members that speak out against mismanagement, and poor services by healthcare facilities are but a drop in the ocean of maladministration under the watch of Hunter and substantiates their previous calls for her to step down.

“The longer Hunter remains in her position, the more damage she causes to an already distressed department. The judgment by Justice Djaje is a clear indicator that the department continues to ignore proper processes in the awarding of tenders.

“The DA will keep a close eye on developments to ensure that individuals account for the evident corruption within this department. The judgment handed down by the North West High Court in Mahikeng has ordered that a fresh invitation for bids be issued within six months and that the tender be awarded to the successful bidder in accordance with the Procurement Policies and Processes,” said Edwards.

Meanwhile, Sambatha said they have noted the outcome of the court ruling pertaining to the physical security tender. He said the department acknowledges and accepts the instructions of the court to issue a fresh invitation for the bids for the rendering of the physical security services to the department.

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