Councillors furious after JMPD officer denied medical attention due to City of Joburg’s R35m debt

Political parties in the City of Johannesburg have expressed anger at the city’s inability to pay its debts.

This comes after a Johannesburg Metro Police (JMPD) officer was denied medical attention at the Netcare Milpark Hospital on Wednesday.

The officer who had suffered a gunshot wound was denied medical attention because the City of Johannesburg owes the private hospital more than R35 million.

Although JMPD officers are expected to have personal medical aid, the municipality has an arrangement with Netcare Milpark Hospital to provide emergency treatment for officers injured while on duty.

JMPD officer in ICU

ActionSA’s Sarah Wissler told The Citizen on Friday that she was horrified when she learned of the incident.

“I was horrified to learn that a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer — shot in the line of duty — was denied urgent life-saving treatment at Netcare Milpark Hospital.

“The reason? The City of Johannesburg owes the facility more than R35 million,” she said.

Wissler said the officer is now fighting for his life in intensive care at Netcare Alberton Hospital after being taken from one hospital to the next.

“Because of this unresolved debt, the officer was refused emergency medical attention and transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where he waited for hours before being stabilised.

“He is now in ICU fighting for his life. This is an unforgivable betrayal of those who risk their lives to keep our city safe.”

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Committee chairperson demands answers

Wissler is the chair of the portfolio committee on public safety.

She told The Citizen that she had demanded a full report concerning this incident.

“As chairperson of the Section 79 public safety committee, I cannot accept that our officers, our first responders, are being treated as expendable due to the city’s gross financial mismanagement.

“These are men and women who face danger daily. Is this how we thank them?” she said.

‘Inability to provide basic responsibilities’

Meanwhile, the DA’s Michael Sun has also expressed outrage at the incident.

However, he blamed the current ruling coalition in Johannesburg for its lack of proper governance.

“How many times must our public servants suffer because of government failures? The ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition’s inability to prioritise basic responsibilities is putting lives at risk. This isn’t just incompetence, it’s a betrayal of the people who keep Joburg safe,” he said.

Wissler said the City of Johannesburg should start collecting enough revenue to service its debts.

“In the council meeting that we had earlier this week, it was discussed that we need to prioritise critical payments. We actually sent a press statement where we told the city that they cannot just keep loaning money from different people when we are not doing adequate collection. The thing is, these are unfunded loans,” she said.

Recently, there were reports of the city having problems paying its car rental company, Afrirent. This company also provides cars for JMPD.

The company had threatened to take its cars back if the city did not pay its debt.

But Wissler said this matter was now resolved.

City of Joburg denies owing R35m

In a statement on Friday, the city denied that it owed Milpark Hospital R35 million.

“The current outstanding bill for Milpark Hospital stands at R3.9 million, with payments being processed and paid weekly.

“The city has engaged in multiple discussions with Milpark Hospital management to explain the payment processes and reassure them that it remains committed to settling its obligations,” it said.

The city also criticised the healthcare professionals who were at the hospital on the day of the incident.

“Such conduct is unacceptable, especially in circumstances involving critically injured emergency personnel.

“In response, the city will be lodging a formal complaint with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA),” it said.

Hospital group says officer was treated before being transferred

However, hospital group Netcare on Friday denied that Milpark Hospital denied treatment for the JMPD officer.

“A JMPD officer received immediate, lifesaving treatment at Netcare Milpark Hospital. Following established global trauma protocols for priority one patients – those with the most time-sensitive, potentially life-threatening injuries – the officer underwent comprehensive screening and was stabilised before being transferred to another appropriate facility under the guidance of a leading trauma surgeon,” it said.

Netcare added that the city’s outstanding payments owed to it include payments to independent private practitioners who practise at Milpark Hospital and other Netcare healthcare facilities.

“We rely on fair and timely compensation to ensure the sustainability of our operations and the continued availability of expert medical professionals. We are actively engaged in ongoing discussions with the City of Johannesburg and are hopeful that a swift and equitable resolution will soon be found.”

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