The DA in the Free State welcomed the decision by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate the Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad. This comes after the party submitted a report to the SAHRC in March detailing ‘gross incidences of human rights violations’ allegedly taking place at the hospital.

Despite promises by Free State MEC of Health Nokwanja Leeto to address the backlog of surgeries in the province, specifically orthopaedic surgeries at Boitumelo Regional Hospital, the problem has worsened according to the DA.

Since May 2022, the hospital only has one operating theatre for all surgeries which is only functional at times, the report stated.

According to MPL and provincial DA spokesperson for Health and Education Mariette Pittaway, the DA daily receives complaints from patients and families of patients, begging for assistance. Many of these patients are elderly and live with extreme pain, while others lose their jobs.

Pittaway said patients are being promised that they will be transferred to other hospitals within the province to undergo surgical procedures, but unfortunately in most cases, the patients are left stranded at this hospital.

“We have been driving this issue on the ground and through letters and questions in the Free State Legislature. The MEC has been ineffective and absent in replying, and the problem continues to deteriorate,” Pittaway said.

She added that if the Department of Health in the Free State cannot fulfil its mandate to deliver orthopaedic surgery at the Boitumelo Regional Hospital, the DA urges the department to make alternate arrangements for these ‘suffering patients’.