The DA has raised concerns about conditions at Rob Ferreira Hospital, alleging that the facility has been without hot water for more than four years, forcing nurses to bathe patients with cold water, even during winter.

DA health spokesperson in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, Bosman Grobler, said the party will write to the Office of Health Standards Compliance.

He said MEC for health Sasekani Manzini must be held accountable for what the DA describes as systemic and critical failures at the hospital.

“Recently, the DA and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) conducted an oversight visit to the hospital after meeting with the CEO.

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“We observed visitors bringing kettles to heat water so they could bathe and make tea for their relatives. When we asked why, staff members, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, said the hospital has been without hot water for more than four years and that they have given up asking why. They have accepted it as normal, to the point where many of them bring their own kettles from home,” he said.

According to Grobler, the lack of hot water is only one of several challenges facing the hospital.

He alleged that the facility is also struggling with severe staff shortages, long waiting times for patients and overcrowding.

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He further alleged that patients are often forced to bring their own blankets, bed sheets and pillows due to a severe shortage of bedding.

“Our oversight also found that the hospital has a shortage of beds, forcing nurses to use stretchers and wheelchairs as makeshift beds. Some patients are even given mattresses to sleep on the floor,” said Grobler.

He added that many toilets in the male, female and maternity wards are either not functioning or frequently have no running water. Some of the working toilets reportedly have no doors.

“The inhumane conditions at Rob Ferreira Hospital compromise hygiene and place patients at risk. A hygiene-compromised environment can be fatal for patients recovering from surgery, those with chronic illnesses or people with weakened immune systems. We want the Health Ombud to intervene and hold MEC Manzini accountable for the systematic failures at the hospital,” he said.

“The DA also hopes the SAHRC will pursue the matter further following the joint oversight visit, during which commissioners witnessed the conditions firsthand.”

Department of Health spokesperson Christopher Nobela said the department is aware of only four wards that have experienced challenges with the supply of hot water due to a damaged calorifier.

“It is misleading and incorrect to say that the hospital has been operating without water for four years. The affected wards experienced a shortage of running hot water only two weeks ago. During that time, heating elements were used to boil water for patients. We can confirm that the affected wards have since been attended to,” he said.

Regarding the linen shortage, Nobela said the hospital has sufficient linen and that some patients simply prefer to bring their own. Concerning the toilet issues, he said the department’s maintenance team has already repaired the blocked toilets.