Daily Podcast – March 14, 2023

14th March 2023 By: Sane Dhlamini - Creamer Media Senior Contributing Editor and Researcher

Daily Podcast – March 14, 2023

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Health Ombud reveals that Rahima Moosa Hospital patients were not respected, City Power gets R9m security boost to help fight cable theft in Joburg and, Cape Town to interdict EFF’s national shutdown

 

Health Ombud reveals that Rahima Moosa Hospital patients were not respected

The Health Ombudsman, Professor Malekgapuru Makgoba, has said an investigation conducted at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital highlights that the facility is filthy and unsafe.

Makgoba said the investigation took over a year following a complaint he received in 2022 from a member of the Health Portfolio Committee, which alleged that expectant mothers were sleeping on the floor.

Also revealed was that the hospital toilets and infrastructure were not safe for pregnant women.

Makgoba the dignity of the patient was not respected.

Paediatrician Dr Tim de Maayer from the hospital also made headlines for writing about the dire situation at the hospital which also led to loss of life.  

 

City Power gets R9m security boost to help fight cable theft

After receiving a R9-million boost to tackle cable theft, City Power will embark on a project that's aimed at replacing underground cables with overhead lines.

City of Johannesburg mayoral committee member for environment and infrastructure services, Jack Sekwaila, who secured the funding, said the project formed part of "new and improved security measures" to make cable theft more difficult.

City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said the project would start in the next few weeks.

He said a tender has already gone out and the City hopes to deploy the new security plan, which includes technology, by April.

Mashava said loadshedding and other "difficulties" made underground copper cables prone to theft.

 

Cape Town to interdict EFF’s national shutdown

City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Western Cape Premier Alan Winde have voiced their concerns over the Economic Freedom Fighters’ planned national shutdown set to take place on March 20.

The EFF announced that it would protest continuing loadshedding and call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.

The party also urged businesses to shut down on the day of the protest to avoid being looted. 

The City of Cape Town has approached the courts seeking an interdict to ensure that the organisers and participants of the planned protests adhere to the law.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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