I have many such matters against the Health Department- Austin
Gauteng Health Department denies not paying a settlement for a malpractice case that happened five years ago.
The Gauteng Health Department has contested reports that its furniture and other movable goods, amounting to around R6.5 million, are about to be seized for failure to pay in a lawsuit.
The action against the department involves a patient who was born brain damaged at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital five years ago.
It follows a High Court order instructing the department to pay in the case involving Matshidiso Matlawa and her daughter.
The department says it settled the amount last month and that none of its furniture was attached.
The department’s Prince Hamnca says payment was effected on October 17.
“We thought all invoices brought to our attention had been cleared.”
However, lawyer Gary Austin, says this is not true.
“We still haven’t received payment and we sent the sheriff to the MEC’s office,” said Austin.
Austin says furniture and equipment including 800 chairs, 600 desks and 400 computers were attached from the department’s headquarters in the Johannesburg CBD.
He says the department was given until Tuesday to make payment of R6.5 million to compensate the Matlawa family.
This is only one of the many cases that Austin is handling that involves the Department of Health.
“I have many such matters against the Health Department. They have not honoured one court order in the last few years.
“They only pay once the Sheriff is sent out to attach assets, and ultimately remove them for sale by public auction. If I did not resort to these drastic measures, they would not pay,” said Austin.
