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In March last year, the Health Ombudsman released a damning report on Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH). Yet, 18 months later, only half of the 44 recommendations have been implemented—despite deadlines as short as one to six months.

This alarming delay was revealed by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature. According to Lesufi, while 22 recommendations have been implemented, another 22 “are still in the process of being implemented.”

A critical recommendation was the appointment of an independent forensic and audit firm to assess the competency of hospital management, review corporate governance, and investigate irregularities in the HR practices under former CEO Dr NP Mkabayi.

This was supposed to be completed within two months. Instead, the Gauteng Health Department passed this on to the Premier’s Office, who referred it to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). While the SIU has agreed to second officials for the investigation, it has yet to begin, pending the signing of a Secondment Agreement.

Another failed deadline is for the hospital’s refurbishment, which was supposed to be completed within six months. Premier Lesufi claims the process is “well underway with the assistance of the Department of Infrastructure Development” (DID).

A fully operational adult ICU was also promised within six months, but a business case for this has yet to be submitted to the DID.

To relieve pressure on RMMCH, the Discoverers Clinic was to be upgraded to a district hospital within six months. This has been passed on to the National Health Department, along with the recommendation to gazette RMMCH as a Tertiary hospital so it can qualify for a tertiary grant.

Dr Mkabayi was supposed to face disciplinary action within one month for various HR failures, and irregularities such as requesting her personnel file, losing it, and not reporting the loss to the HR department or the SAPS. Instead, she is in a cushy post at head office, shielded from accountability.

Mkabayi was removed as CEO after taking nearly 100 days unauthorised leave and irregularly working from home, and she suspended Dr Tim de Maayer who exposed dire conditions including pregnant women sleeping on the floor.

She should never have been appointed to run RMMCH, and the delay in disciplining her is unacceptable.

It is a disgrace that 18 months after the Health Ombudsman’s report, key recommendations remain unfulfilled.

The DA will continue to push for the top management changes needed to fix RMMCH and other hospitals where patients suffer from poor treatment.

Issued by Jack Bloom MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health