TZANEEN: March against ‘bad health services’
EFF's 129 branches in the district gathered in Tzaneen, where they marched to Van Velden Hospital handing over a memorandum of discontentment with the institution.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Mopani, say they are fighting against bad health services and maladministration in local government.
VIDEO: EFF march against Van Velden and Mopani municipal manager
The party accused the hospital of exploitation of workers, shortage of health practitioners, racism by management and unfair treatment of HIV positive patients.
Their demands included the following; employment of more doctors and nurses, improvement of cleanliness and hygiene conditions in the wards, provision of water and sanitation and the insourcing of the hospital security guards and cleaners.
“HIV positive patients must be treated with respect and dignity, they must not be scared to fetch their treatment because they will be called-out in front everyone.
“Nationally as a party we have declared 2018 ‘The year of Health Public Care’, so it means we will be focusing mostly on the improvement of our health facilities.
“Many of our people are being treated badly in health institutions and it must stop,” said Isaac Hlungwana, from EFF Mopani.
Jossey Buthane, Secretary of the EFF Limpopo, physically handed the memorandum over to the hospital’s CEO, Peniel Lotte.
Derrick Kganyago, Spokesperson of the Department of Health in Limpopo, acknowledged receipt of the memorandum and says they are currently vetting it, to see if all the allegations are true and are in the process of fixing everything.
Meanwhile on the other hand, the party opened a case of corruption at Tzaneen Police Station against, Republic Monakedi, Mopani Municipal Manager.
Read: TZANEEN: EFF demand the arrest of supermarket Manager
They accuse Monakedi of abusing Regulation 32 of Municipal Supply Chain Management, by issuing tenders to his ‘friends’ and not following the correct procedures.
Tenders issued under the regulation are mostly given when there is an emergency or a strike, which calls for the municipality to award tenders without going through the normal channels.
“We want him to be accountable for the tenders that he has issued amounting to over R700 000 000, since his appointment as the district manager.
“We want him arrested, we will also take the matter to the HAWKS,” Hlungwana added.
The Mopani District Municipality could not be reached for a comment, more on the story as it unfolds.
