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The Democratic Alliance commends the Gauteng Health Department for the speedy and cost-effective repair of the Tambo Memorial Hospital after it was damaged by a gas tanker explosion on Christmas Eve last year.

According to the Department, the repairs cost R3.3 million, in stark contrast to the R18 million estimate by Gauteng Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development MEC Lebogang Maile when he visited shortly after the blast.

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko was rightly skeptical of his high estimate which raises suspicions that tender hyenas were looking to make money out of this tragedy.

Maile should explain himself in this matter as his department is notorious for failing to fix hospitals because of rampant inefficiency and corruption.

Hospital staff and patients should not suffer because repairs and renovations are often delayed by poor contractors who get paid but don’t finish the job.

I will be keeping an eagle eye on hospital infrastructure spending to ensure contracts go to reputable companies that do the work on time and within budget.

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