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Eleven Gauteng public hospitals have paid R1.7 million for over-priced food from a business training company in Limpopo.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my follow-up questions in the Gauteng Legislature as to why a fishy Limpopo contract is being used that includes companies not registered to sell food.

Leratong hospital has bought the most food from Mmanko Business Training and IT Solutions, including 1 litre milk at R32 while supermarkets sell milk for R16.

R1263 was paid for 10kg Chicken frozen breast, compared to R650 elsewhere.

Frozen hake is another over-priced item, with 5kg costing R1173 instead of R850 elsewhere.

The only reasonable value was 60 large eggs for R193.

Another poor value item was R12 139 that the Sizwe Tropical Hospital paid Mmanko for 540 Mageu 500ml cartons, which works out to R22.50 a carton as opposed to R10 at most supermarkets.

It is highly suspicious that this training company is on the food list for a Limpopo Health Department contract that the Gauteng Health Department decided to piggyback on.

Other fishy companies on the list that have sold a wide variety of groceries to Gauteng hospitals include NM Motors and Workshop, Madics Security and Projects, and Musa Security Care.

The Departments says that fresh vegetables, chicken breast and wings, milk, cheese, and yoghurt are still being bought using the Limpopo contract.

Last year, the Department said it had spent a total of R23.6 million buying food for Gauteng hospitals through the Limpopo contract as they are still preparing contracts to buy food locally.

It is ridiculous to buy over-priced food from a dodgy contract in another province when there are many local food suppliers with competitive prices.

It also cuts out township businesses that could supply local hospitals.

The DA calls for an immediate halt to food purchases using the Limpopo contract, and an urgent investigation into who authorised it and who benefits from it.

Issued by Jack Bloom MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health