The DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, raised his concerns about a delay in construction at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“The psychiatric ward at the hospital will be completed in September this year, two years after it was supposed to be done by a failed contractor,” said Bloom. He said that this was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu in an oral reply to his questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
Mahlangu said that the initial contractor, Chriselda Building Construction, was terminated after it only did phase 1 of the project which comprised the doctor’s rooms. Bloom said that the project was re-advertised in August 2015 and a replacement contractor was appointed to complete the job.
Bloom said that the construction is now 30 per cent complete and it is expected to be finished on 27 September at a cost of about R10 million. “I hope that the new contractor meets the deadline as a new psychiatric ward is needed urgently,” said Bloom.
He said that last year a YouTube video by a relative of one of the patients had circulated, which showed bare walls, cockroaches and a crude lock on the security gate. “Toilets are in a bad condition, male and female patients are not properly separated, and there are only 20 beds,” said Bloom. He said that the plan is to expand to 40 beds and ensure a congenial environment for psychiatric patients.
Bloom said that hospital patients are let down yet again by a poor choice of contractor who cannot finish the job and that this happens far too often because of poor appointment procedures and probable corruption.
Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development spokesperson, Theo Nkonki, said, “Refurbishment works at the psychiatric ward started in the 2014 and 2015 financial year and the project is on course to be completed on 27 September as planned.”
Nkonki said that this project like many others that the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure is facilitating the delivery of, is funded by the Department of Health, at a cost of R10 894 980.
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