/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

72 of Tswelopele’s frail and disabled patients are now suffering as they have been left without food, adult nappies and toiletries and have nowhere to go as the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD) is failing to provide alternative accommodation.

Tswelopele Frail Care Centre was set to officially close its doors on 31 March due to severe financial challenges which resulted in this institution being unable to pay its rental fees. DSD was made aware of the severe financial challenges facing this centre and made a commitment that it would relocate the 72 patients before the official closing date of the centre. This has not happened, and the patients are now starving as there is no food left for them.

The centre is now struggling to provide adult nappies, toiletries, and cleaning materials as they do not have money. This centre has cancelled all its service provider contracts due to its official closure and must now request for reconnection of some services for which they have to pay penalties.

The department consulted with the management and staff members at Tswelopele as well as the family members of the patients and promised that there were alternative facilities for the relocation of the patients and to date, it has not yet happened.

Delays by the department to relocate these patients to alternative facilities shows that this department has no empathy for the destitute that are solely dependent on the government for survival.

The continued suffering of these patients who are not being relocated to alternative facilities will result in another Life Esidimeni tragedy as these patients will die of hunger and a lack of access to proper health care.

The DA is demanding answers from the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Morakane Mosupyoe with regards to when these patients will be moved and where will they be moved to. We have tabled questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain whether the department had properly planned for the closure of Tswelopele as well as the relocation of its patients to other alternative facilities.

We will continue to put pressure on MEC Mosupyoe to ensure that her department speeds-up the process of relocating these patients to ensure that they receive all the necessary care they deserve.

Issued by Bronwynn Engelbrecht MPL - DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Social Development