Gauteng MEC for infrastructure Development Ms Qedani Mahlangu has vowed to pull all the stops to ensure that all of the province’s central laundry work sites are functioning optimally. MEC Mahlangu today handed over the Dun Swart laundry works site in Boksburg, to the contractor appointed to carry out major equipment upgrades.
MEC Mahlangu has undertaken to constantly monitor the upgrade work to ensure that the contractor completes it expeditiously, and that it’s of superior quality.
Dun Swart laundry works is vital in the provision of health care in Ekurhuleni Metro and Sedibeng district, as it services 12 hospitals, 72 primary health care sites as well as the two municipalities’ emergency services.
It has faced various challenges related mainly to ageing laundry equipment. “I cannot accept a situation whereby some of the provincial laundry works frequently turn to centres like Chris Hani Baragwanath laundry to help handle loads from the various hospitals. That puts a strain on Bara and will lead to faster depreciation of the newly installed machines at Bara laundry. That’s why we have to ensure that laundry sites like Dun Swart and Masakhane are fully functional all the time” said MEC Mahlangu.
The Department of Infrastructure Development has allocated R 45.7 Million for the upgrades to the Dun Swart laundry equipment. This is part of MEC Mahlangu’s concerted crusade to fix once and for all electro-mechanical problems at Gauteng’s hospitals and primary health care clinics.
DID’s R 450 Million ‘Project 274’, aimed at addressing Electro-Mechanical challenges at health care centres is forging full steam ahead. It includes servicing and in some instances replacing boilers, lifts, autoclaves, chillers and generators, among others. Other sites that are currently receiving urgent attention include the Masakhane laundry works in Pretoria, where a contractor has also taken over the site and a boiler is due to be delivered.
“Project 274 is already beginning to yield results. We’ve seen for instance one of theboilers at Dr George Mukhari hospital come online after months of not working, we’ve installed generators at primary healthcare clinics. In January we’re expecting lifts to be delivered and installed at various hospitals including some of the 4 central hospitals such as George Mukhari and Chris Hani Baragwanath” said MEC Mahlangu.
The MEC is committed to easing the burden on her Executive Council counterparts responsible for Health and Social Development as well as Education among others, and to facilitating delivery of services whose positive impact will be felt by Gauteng citizens.
Enquiries:
Thulasizwe Simelane
Cell: 081 031 3518
E-mail: Thulasizwe.Simelane@gauteng.gov.za
