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Ntokozo Maphisa, a spokesperson for the department, said in a statement: “As part of fiscal responsibility, the department is always looking for opportunities to optimize the use of its financial, human and material resources in order to make much-needed savings and ensure the best practice.
“Given the age of Addington Hospital, its location along the coast and its large catchment area, the facility’s healthcare technology equipment and other crucial infrastructure are vulnerable to constant malfunction.”
Maphisa said the department has spent “millions of rand each year to repair or replace this infrastructure.”
“In making decisions about the future of any healthcare facility, the department conducts due diligence, which includes extensive engagement with all affected stakeholders.
“In accordance with the principle of inclusion, the department has started a consultative process and, at the appropriate time, will provide more details on the development of the process,” he said.
Mandla Shabangu, a spokesperson for SA’s Democratic Nurses Organization (Denosa), told TimesLIVE on Saturday that the union “was surprised to hear that comment from the MEC.”
“It is a procedure that when such a movement is carried out, as stakeholders, we should be consulted thoroughly because such a movement will make our members who work there and the public uncomfortable.
“We do not agree that Addington’s infrastructure problems, including the elevators, are the result of the sea …”
Shabangu accused the department’s infrastructure section and the public works department of failing “sadly in the last 10 years to maintain infrastructure.”
“The problems of that hospital are more than the elevators that do not work. There is poor maintenance of the staff residence, broken windows, lack of electricity, blocked sinks and toilets. So we can’t just say it’s about your location.
“We are waiting for the employer to formally present their intent to us as stakeholders on the relevant platform, where we will then participate in their plan from there,” he said.
TimesLIVE
