Premier Nomvula Mokonyane will on Tuesday, 12 July 2011 pay a visit to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital following a disturbing report that she received about allegations of sabotage at the hospital.
It has come to the premier's attention that there have been certain people who have been deliberately tempering with life-saving equipment at the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and operating theatres.
"I received a very shocking report about certain people deliberately switching off oxygen supply to patients in the ICU and to the operating theatres. I am not sure what are those people trying to achieve by so doing but it is extremely unacceptable and such a practice amounts to murder because those actions can lead to death.
"I have asked different law enforcement agencies to prioritise these allegations and investigate thoroughly. Those who are responsible must be brought to book to account for these barbaric actions.
"If anyone at the hospital has grievances, they should follow the right procedures in order to register their displeasure. Apart from the hospital management, the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development is another outlet in which people can go to if they need to be heard.
"It is criminal and against any known ethics and morals to use patients to achieve one's personal and selfish ends. I am going to make sure that those who are responsible for this pay the price. If it means upgrading security equipment throughout the hospital beyond what we have at the moment, we will do so to achieve the highest safety standards for our patients," Mokonyane said.
For more information contact:
Dumisani Zulu
Cell: 082 602 3532
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
Source: Sapa
