THE illegal occupation of derelict buildings within the King Dinizulu Hospital Complex (KDHC) in Durban and subsequent complaints from neighbouring residents, has forced the DA to appeal to KZN Health MEC, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, to act immediately by enforcing stricking security measures within the hospital complex.
The matter was raised in the provincial legislature last week by the opposition party when it tabled a motion calling for strengthened security after an increased presence of the illegal occupation of buildings at the hospital complex allegedly by drug dealers and sex workers who have moved into the abandoned and derelict former nurses hostel on the property.
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Residents in the vicinity who have been plagued by an increase in noise, litter and higher than usual level of criminal activity, together with ward councillor Chris Pappas, approached the hospital management to raise their concerns, but the problem persists.
Pappas said the DA had received volumes of correspondence and a petition regarding the matter.
“This includes 129 signatures of residents in the area which we forwarded to the DoH, but no official acknowledgement of receipt has been received,” he said, adding the MEC would be held accountable.
Dr Imran Keeka MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Health, said the DA had also been led to believe that security guards posted at the building were allowing free passage to anyone, rather than preventing trespassers from accessing the facility.
“This necessitates, as an immediate step, an increase and improvement in security services at the derelict building. It is clear that the MEC has been sitting on his hands and has not acted upon the grievances received from the community.”
“This problem has been in existence since at least February, with residents claiming that the problems began as far back as late 2016,” said Keeka.
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Keeka said, as the custodian of healthcare in KZN, the DA expected the MEC to take full responsibility for the situation and enforce stricter security measures, to ensure that the hospital complex was restored to its former state.
“We expect the MEC to work with the infrastructure department, the Department of Justice and SAPS to immediately solve the root of this ongoing problem of illegal occupation of unused buildings,” said Keeka.
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