The Select Committee on Education and Recreation, and the Select Committee on Social Services have concluded their four-day oversight visit to hospitals and schools in the Eastern Cape.
The Social Services Committee noted with concerns the challenges raised by management at the hospitals which were visited. Five hospitals which were visited are the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha General, St Barnabas, Nessie Knight and Bambisana.
During the engagement, officials from the hospitals briefed the Committee on the difficulties they were faced with. Among the issues they were battling with was the high turnover rate of staff that was attributed to the rumours circulating that if employees did not take retire before the end of the financial year they were likely to forfeit their pension funds.
A procurement processes delay in the sourcing of goods and services was a matter that was also raised. The Committee was informed that the delays were a result of the lack of service providers in the surrounding areas, especially in the deep rural areas. In addition, IT problems at the various institutions were responsible for setbacks and improper administration of hospitals.
The hospitals were said to have failed to attract specialist doctors and healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, dentists and social workers. Furthermore, incentives like rural allowance were not biased towards poorer hospitals. Among the major challenges the hospitals were dealing with was old infrastructure that had not been developed over a long period of time with the exception of Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. Some of the hospitals have dilapidated structures, for example the Nessie Knight was built in 1927 by missionaries.
Chairperson of Select Committee on Social Services, Cathy Dlamini, said the problems in hospitals cut across. She requested that the provincial Department of Health look into the problems experienced by the hospitals. Dlamini welcomed the commitment from the Department of Health both provincially and nationally to build new hospitals in Bambisana and Nessie Knight.
Upon arrival at Bambisana Hospital, the Committee was greeted by a group of protesters. During the walkabout around the institution the protesters were given an opportunity to engage with the Committee. The community also presented their complaints and demands. Among the demands, the community indicated that they wanted a dismissal of the hospital Chief Executive Officer, and that paramedic drivers should be from Bambisana. Dlamini said the Health MEC made a commitment to visit the hospital and intervene. The Committee noted all challenges that were reported and made a commitment that issues raised would be monitored with regular feedback and updates on a quarterly basis.
Concerning high schools that were visited by Select Committee on Education and Recreation, the Committee welcomed the briefing from Nozuko and Ngangelizwe. Chairperson for the Select Committee on Education and Recreation Lungelwa Zwane said the situation presented by the two schools was positive and encouraging.
The Committee welcomed the initiatives employed by the schools (Nozuko and Ngangelizwe High School) to address the challenges there are faced with. Reports emanating from the principals on challenges that are experienced at these schools included the lack of parent involvement in their children’s education, social problems such as drug abuse and teenage pregnancy. A lack of teachers for special subjects such as Maths, Accounting and Sciences was also brought up.
Briefing the Committee, the schools pleaded for an upgrade and renovations. Zwane said the picture painted to them was not about doom and gloom. “The social problems such as drugs, alcohol abuse and pregnancy need a collaborative approach. The other two schools are well managed but they are not performing well as they should, an integrated approach that is interdepartmental and intergovernmental is needed to resolve the problems,” said Zwane.
Zwane said Mditshwa high school needed immediate attention. The undertaking by the district leadership to resolve the issue of changing leadership in Mditshwa after all processes have been followed is a positive move. “Let us be committed to saving the future of our children therefore the future of the country,” she said.
At the King Sabatha Dalindyebo FET College, the Committee cautioned the institution that it had come out of administration phase so they should have a turnaround strategy that was going to sustain proper running of the institution. The Committee noted with concern the high dropout rate of students because of late payment of NSFAS funding. The Committee said NSFAS was demoralising students, the Department of Higher Education created a burden for institutions by late deposits of the first payments.
Another critical issue is the number of graduates that are produced as the final outcome and number of staff members that are still employed as temporary lecturers despite arrangements that were made about 17 months ago. The Committee noted with appreciation the positive attitude of personnel, students and that the Department of Higher Education in ensuring that the institution was properly managed. The Committee and welcomed the announcement by Higher Education that money amounting to approximately R43 million had been set aside to complete the hostel by the department.
Zwane said the Committee had taken a resolution that National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will make every effort to come back to monitor progress on the improvement at the institutions. A report will be formulated and tabled in the NCOP which will be handed to the relevant ministries.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson:
Yoliswa Landu, Parliamentray Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8203
Cell: 073 738 0182
Email: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
