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The DA will this week submit additional parliamentary questions to the
Northern Cape Health MEC, Mac Jack, to further probe the department’s
exorbitant security contract with Karibuni Security Services (see
question attached).

This comes after a reply to a parliamentary question has revealed that
the value of the department’s contract with Karibuni Security Services
is a massive R69 million.

The DA previously questioned the efficacy of security services at
provincial health facilities after it came to light that Kimberley
Hospital (KH), which itself is spending R8 million per annum on
security services, has become a crime nest.

This was exposed by an earlier reply to a parliamentary question
regarding safety at KH, which indicated that 26 cases of theft have
been reported at the facility in the past two years. These include
incidents of office breaking, as well as theft of cellphones,
computers, laptops, medicine, money, furniture, a motor vehicle,
medical equipment, medical tools, workshop equipment, a water pump,
and a bicycle.

Other crimes reported on the hospital premises since the start of the
year include assault, fighting and riotous behaviour, use of
narcotics, reckless and negligent driving, ATM scams and possession of
dangerous weapons. In fact, over 200 dangerous weapons were
confiscated at the facility and are due to be handed over to the
police for destruction.

Escalating crime at other health facilities is also a growing concern
and at the beginning of August there were reports of two separate
assaults on nurses at a clinic in Upington, as well as the district
hospital in Postmasburg.

The DA is concerned that the department is significantly overspending
on basic guarding and physical security services, such as access
control, regular patrols, searching, traffic control, escorting of
staff during night duties and safe guarding of institutional assets,
which are proving to be largely inadequate.

Even more concerning is that the department claims to be facing a
shortage of security personnel, despite the huge investment into
guarding services.

Meanwhile, the health department has indicated that that most
facilities do not have parameter fencing and lighting and those that
do, are often not conducive for security services. The department goes
on to say that facilities in general do not have security control
rooms, which makes it difficult for effective security provision and
monitoring at facility level. Most facilities also do not have CCTV
cameras nor do they have security equipment such as sensors, x-ray
scanners and metal detectors at entry points, which compromises access
control, as dangerous objects cannot be detected. Also, only some
facilities have safes in which to store confiscated weapons.

Given the huge amount of money spent on Karibuni Security Services,
there is gaping lack of security provision at health facilities across
the province.

The effectiveness and value-for-money factor of the current services
being provided is questionable. The department’s narrow approach
towards security provision is also troubling.

The DA will further probe the department’s contract with Karibuni
Security Services as well as the department’s future plans to upgrade
security measures at facilities across the province.

Patients in the Northern Cape deserve quality healthcare that is safe
and secure. The department must ensure that security service providers
are providing thorough security services and private security
companies with multi-million rand contracts must be fired if they are
not performing.

Issued by DA