The FF Plus told the Gauteng ANC government on 17 June 2021, that the provincial Department of Health is a disgraceful ANC institution because of the extent of the Covid-19 tender fraud that occurred during the procurement of protective equipment.
What makes the fraud even worse is that those funds were earmarked to help protect the poorest of the poor against the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, a budget in itself means nothing, especially if it is not implemented properly.
The FF Plus also finds it extremely alarming that the Department of Health has seemingly not learnt any lessons from the previous two waves of Covid-19.
Now that the third wave is nearing its peak in Gauteng, it has become evident that the Department is still not properly prepared to deal with it. It appears that there is going to be a shortage of beds again due to numerous problems at various hospitals.
Not long ago, the Steve Biko Hospital did not even have water – the water supply was restored only after the FF Plus stepped in. The Helen Joseph and Rahim Moosa Hospitals are, however, still plagued by water shortages. And on top of that, the Charlotte Maxeke is still closed because a fire had broken out there.
While the FF Plus does have hope that one day the pandemic will be over, the party is not holding out hope that the Health Department will improve for as long as it remains under ANC control.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Adv Anton Alberts on FF Plus
