Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Mariette Pittaway MPL and Sesotho by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The recent oversight by the portfolio on Social Services, which includes the Department of Health, in the Free State Legislature to the Boitumelo Regional Hospital has echoed the DA’s concern with the delays of the building project.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has continually raised the issue of the non-functional operating theatres at Boitumelo in the Free State Provincial Legislature. There are six operating theatres in the theatre complex and since May 2022 only one is in use. This results in the backlog of surgeries escalating and is a life-threatening situation.
A previous oversight visit by the DA in September 2023, found that a construction company is on-site, and was informed that the main operating theatres will be fully operational and ready for use by 22 September 2023.
However, with the oversight visit by the Portfolio, after a question by the DA to the CEO and COO as well as the construction company, it was revealed that although work is in progress, only 11% of the current contract is completed at this stage. It is projected that by the end of November 2023, only three of the six operating theatres might be in use.
The contract is part of the Hospital Revitalisation Programme and the contract commenced in 2009.
The DA will continue to conduct oversight on the progress of this contract and continue to raise this issue in the Free State Provincial Legislature until the project is completed and the residents of Boitumelo receive the services they require.