Alex child dies after being turned away at Masakhane
An Alex child who was a victim of a hit-and-run was apparently turned away at Alexandra Community Health Centre by a security guard due to a broken generator.
A family in Alexandra township is mourning the death of their 4-year-old boy who was severely injured in a hit-and-run on July 13.
According to the family, their child died from his injuries after the family was allegedly turned away from the Alexandra Community Health Centre at about 17:00. This after security guards apparently told them the clinic had no electricity as the generator had broken down two weeks ago after it had exploded during the frequent load-shedding.
The family then took the boy to the Edenvale Hospital but he died in transit.
“While the investigation into this matter is continuing, it is inexcusable that a generator at a large clinic has been out of action for two weeks.
“This highlights once again the incompetence of the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of all generators at healthcare facilities,” alleged the DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom.
According to Bloom, other health facilities in Gauteng that have suffered from failed generators included the Badirile and Thusong clinics on the West Rand, and the Far East Rand Hospital ran out of fuel for one of its generators two weeks ago.
Chief communications director of the Gauteng Department of Health Matalatale Modiba confirmed the department had been notified of the broken generator on June 30 but emphasised that the facility, however, continued to provide health services regardless.
Modiba added department officials had visited the family on July 15 to provide support following the bereavement and said they will also offer counselling to the family post burial.
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