The Gauteng health department has refuted claims that Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital is facing a winter clothing shortage.

This follows a statement by Madeleine Hicklin, MPL and DA Gauteng spokesperson for health, alleging that the facility does not have enough winter clothes, bedding or nightwear, or enough washing machines to properly care for patients during the cold season.

“The patients are still wearing summer trousers and tops, no socks, and threadbare dressing gowns. Not only is there a shortage of winter clothing, but the facility has only one washing machine on the property. As temperatures drop below 5 five degrees, patients must endure unbearable cold,” Hicklin said.

Hicklin also alleged that the DA in Gauteng was reliably informed by concerned parents of a patient that, earlier this week, the hospital began issuing socks to patients for the first time this winter.

She further claimed that some gowns in better condition were found for patients who were feeling cold. Hicklin said parents are not allowed to bring in additional clothing, as this creates unease among patients and some items go missing even when they are labelled with name tags.

“To make matters worse, the heating in the ward is barely functional, and patients continually complain to both staff and relatives about being cold and unable to get warm. The clothing supplied to patients is threadbare and has not been replaced in years, with many of the trousers being too loose because the elastic is no longer functional,” Hicklin said.

The DA Gauteng urged the MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko, to address the situation urgently, noting that winter has not fully arrived yet and conditions are likely to worsen.

The DA will also table questions to the MEC to determine how the issues will be addressed, including the alleged severe shortage of winter clothing for patients, the washing machine situation, and the non-functional heating system at the hospital.

Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said members of the public can rest assured that patient care remains the department’s top priority, and that the facility has adequate stocks of winter supplies.

“We wish to confirm that winter clothing is currently being provided to patients. While available stock does not always permit multiple complete changes of winter clothing per patient daily, every effort is made to ensure that patients have access to warm clothing and adequate bedding throughout the winter season,” Mabona said.

Mabona also said that contrary to the claim about only one washing machine, the facility has five washing machines and six dryers, all of which are functional.

He added that electricity constraints and power supply limitations mean only three washing machines and three dryers can be used simultaneously.

The department has implemented contingency measures to address this, Mabona said.

“Despite this challenge, patient clothing remains the highest priority within the laundry process. To further support patient comfort during colder months, overtime for laundry personnel has been approved to ensure the continuous washing and rotation of jerseys, gowns, blankets and other essential patient clothing and bedding items. This allows items to be used interchangeably and remain available to patients during extreme cold,” Mabona said.

The department said it completed the replacement of condemned patient clothing during the 2025/26 financial year and procured new pyjamas, night gowns, sheets, blankets, bedspreads and patient footwear to improve patient comfort and dignity.

Regarding heating in waiting areas, the department said the challenge is not due to equipment availability, but rather the psychiatric environment, where conventional heating appliances pose significant safety risks. It said patients may inadvertently place combustible materials on heaters or use them in ways that endanger themselves, other patients and staff.

“This means heating measures in psychiatric facilities must be balanced between comfort and safety,” the department said.

The department said it procured 200 oil heaters in the 2024/25 financial year, and that air-conditioning unit installation was included in the maintenance plan to improve comfort in patient areas, as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements.

“We continue to implement measures to ensure patient needs are met while maintaining a safe environment. Any operational challenges identified are being actively addressed through ongoing procurement, resource allocation and infrastructure improvement processes,” Mabona said.

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