Question NW3234 to the Minister of Health
13 October 2022 - NW3234
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Health
Following his visit to Kalafong Hospital after the reported xenophobic attacks against patients assumed to be foreign nationals and patients who did not carry identification documents, (a) what is the outcome of his visit to the specified hospital and (b) how did hospital management take accountability for the flouting of security requirements and expectations?
Reply:
1. The Minister of Health conducted site visit to the hospital on Thursday, 01 September 2022, and interacted with facility management to assess the impact of protests on health service deliver, local SAPS authorities to understand their role in enforcing the court interdict and leaders of the Operation Dudula to understand their concerns.
a) During this meeting an agreement was reached that the protests should end with immediate effect, and all concerns should be raised through proper channels, instead of protests action that will affect service delivery. The protest was called-off.
b) After Kalafong hospital management was alerted of the disruption of free access to the hospital, hospital security and SAPS members were deployed to ensure free access to the hospital.
2. Secondly, the hospital management applied for an urgent court interdict against the protesting organization. A Court interdict preventing disruption to free access to the hospital was subsequently granted.
END.