City of Joburg settling Milpark Hospital debt
Mlimandlela Ndamase, director of mayoral communications, said reports that the city owes the hospital group R34-million are incorrect.
The City of Johannesburg has begun a process to settle an R15.7-million debt to Netcare Hospital Group for the treatment of public safety officers and City Power staff who were injured on duty.
The debt was accumulated when claims by doctors who attended the officers and staff were left unpaid because they were not registered on the city’s vendor system in line with the city’s procurement processes.
Mlimandlela Ndamase, director of mayoral communications, said reports that the city owes the hospital group R34-m are incorrect. The process to settle R15.7-m has started in consultation with the Netcare Hospital Group to resolve all compliance matters.
“These consultations have allowed the city and group to finalise Netcare’s registration onto the city’s suppliers’ database, a process which was settled on March 2 and has enabled the payment process to commence.
“At no point were JMPD officers and City Power officials turned away or declined medical attention at the Milpark Hospital due to the outstanding payments to the hospital group.
“To remedy this situation, the city has convened an urgent meeting with specialist doctors working with the Netcare Group to assist them to register in the city’s suppliers’ database. The outcome of the engagement will expedite the processing of outstanding payments,” he said.
