Acting Gauteng MEC of Health Jacob Mamabolo has confirmed that a criminal case has been opened regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) that was found floating in a river at country club in Centurion.

The video of the PPE floating in the river surfaced on social media on 2 August.

PPE found in a river in Irene, Centurion. Video as received. pic.twitter.com/WXU9al9jWQ

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 2, 2020

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has deemed the discovery ‘unacceptable’. The union said in a statement, “In the video, one can see gloves and masks which are in short supply in healthcare facilities across the country.”

In the statement, the workers’ union added that some of its members and workers have had to resort to using scarves as masks and refuse bags as aprons due to the shortage of PPE.

Mamabolo posted on Twitter that he visited the country club on 2 August to speak to representatives of the club.

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