Question NW1304 to the Minister of Health
19 May 2023 - NW1304
Tafeni, Ms N to ask the Minister of Health
What steps of intervention has he taken in response to the security crisis facing healthcare facilities in the Republic beyond the usual tendering for security services that fail to avoid the security crises and (b) action has he taken in response to the St Georges Hospital case where a woman was gunned down inside the specified premises?
Reply:
a) The Minster of Health has appointed a Ministerial Task Team for safety and security in all public health facilities. The purpose of the task team was to assess the effectiveness of security measures and make recommendations. The task team has conducted security assessments at all public health facilities. Subsequently reports were drafted with the following recommendations:
- Improve security infrastructure like perimeter fencing and security guard rooms.
- Installation of security technology like CCTV cameras system, access control and alarm systems.
- Development of standardised security framework.
- Effective security contract management to hold Service Providers accountable.
- Regular security patrols at public health facilities by SAPS especially in hotspot facilities.
- Deployment of police reservists at hotspot public health facilities.
- Implementation of intelligence driven security measures at hotspot facilities
- Escort of EMS by SAPS to hotspot communities.
In this regard, memorandum of understanding was entered into between SAPS and NDoH to ensure regular patrols and deployment of police reservists.
Ministerial task team meet on regular basis to monitor the implementations of the recommendations and to assist provinces with any required security intervention.
b) St Georges Hospital is a private hospital under Life Healthcare group at Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The matter has not been reported to the National Department of Health for intervention. However, the National Department of Health keeps advising hospitals to improve security measures and to report the matter to their local police.
END.