JOHANNESBURG - This is according to Democratic Alliance   shadow minister of health, Patricia Kopane who addressed a media briefing yesterday.

“It is shocking that these machines have been out of use since March,” said Kopane.

Upon visiting the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital yesterday morning, the DA was told the reason for the machines not being fixed was that service providers had not been paid for the maintenance of equipment.

There are 159 patients on the hospital’s oncology department waiting list for cervical cancer treatment.

“The disrepair means that patients who have been diagnosed with cancer cannot be treated effectively and safely,” Kopane said.

According to the DA, the Steve Biko Academic Hospital has similar equipment shortages to the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.

According to Gauteng Health spokesman Simon Zwane the shortages are nothing new.

“The companies responsible for machines that are not working have assured us that the parts for these machines will arrive on Monday,” Zwane said.