Dumped medical supplies removed
Medical supplies, illegally dumped in Pollak Park Extension Three at the end of May, were removed on June 30.
The supplies were dumped in an open field opposite Matruh Street.
Resident George Skhakana and his neighbour Nick le Roux noticed a two-ton truck, loaded with rubble and old furniture, in the field and went to investigate.
The pair claim the truck driver and accompanying workers were arrogant and refused to give them answers about what they were doing.
When the truck left, George and Nick found sealed packets containing plasters, bandages, surgical gloves, hypodermic needles, linen savers and sanitary pads strewn all over the place.
Upon further investigation, they found documentation bearing the stamp of the Tambo Memorial Hospital, in Boksburg.
Gauteng Health Department spokesman Chris Maxon confirmed all the supplies and documentation belongs to the hospital.
He claims it was part of the rubble removed from the aftermath of a recent fire that occurred in the general stores of the hospital.
The Department of Infrastructure Development appointed a Springs company to remove the rubble.
The director of this company, John Sithole, apologised for the “regrettable incident”.
Upon investigation of the dumped items, Sithole discovered that 5% of it contained new medical components.
He had instructed the last load to be delivered to an outsourced medical waste disposal company.
Upon investigation, however, they discovered the company never received it.
Sithole, accompanied by a representative from the Ekurhuleni Metro’s Health Department, conducted an inspection at the dumping site on June 30, and the dumped items were removed by his company.
“No medical waste remains on the ground and the area was properly cleaned,” says Sithole.
