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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted an urgent request for the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature’s (NCPL) health committee to conduct oversight of the neonatal ward at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (RMS) hospital and to meet with departmental management regarding serious security concerns at health facilities.

This comes after a newborn baby was kidnapped from the hospital yesterday. The baby was fortunately recovered by police from a house in Greenpoint, Kimberley this morning.

The kidnapping coincides with a week-long strike by security personnel, who are believed to be up in arms regarding outstanding salaries owed to them. According to media reports, it remains uncertain whether this is due to non-payments by the health department to Defensor Security, or by Defensor to their staff. Regardless, the situation is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to drag on any further.

The DA has for years questioned the department’s use of expensive security firms, with little value for money. The Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, long ago indicated the province’s intention to insource security and cleaning services, which is purportedly being done in a phased-in approach, across different departments over several years. It is therefore questionable that the department has continued with month-to-month contracts, knowing that they will require security services for the foreseeable future.

Earlier this year, the National Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaalha, also revealed that the outsourcing of security services by the Northern Cape Health Department resulted in a R427 million irregular expenditure due to month-to-month contracts. In addition, the former Northern Cape Health HOD Steven Jonkers is also amongst officials involved in a court case relating to a tender amounting to over R300 million, for the rendering of security services back in 2017, to the very company that continues to provide security services to the health department.

Security failures are directly responsible for the lack of access control at RMS that resulted in a baby being stolen. The health department must be held accountable for this gross negligence and failure of security. Already, the department faces legal claims to the value of R2,1 billion. It cannot afford further claims arising due to absent security allowing health facilities to become havens of crime.

I have submitted my request for urgent oversight and a meeting to the chairperson of the health committee, Sanna Tieties.

Issued by Dr Isak Fritz, MPL - DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate