Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Hennie van Niekerk and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will urgently reconvene all relevant provincial departments in January for an on-site intervention at National Hospital in the Mangaung Metro Municipality, where derelict asbestos structures have been allowed to decay for nearly three years.
Continuous inaction by Health and Public Works has created a preventable health and safety risk for residents of Wilgehof and members of the Provincial Legislature who live adjacent to the property. The DA will ensure that clear commitments, deadlines, and accountability measures are agreed upon during this inspection so that the hospital grounds can finally be restored to a safe condition.
During an inspection I conducted in February 2023, it was confirmed that several asbestos-containing buildings on the National Hospital premises, bordering George Home Street in Wilgehof, were in a state of collapse and required demolition. At that time, these abandoned structures were being used as shelter by vagrants, resulting in illegal activities that further heightened security concerns for the surrounding community.
The presence of asbestos posed a significant health risk, especially to nearby residents and staff housed in the adjacent Provincial Legislature accommodation.
Despite repeated invitations from the Head of Department (HOD) of Health to meet on-site, senior officials continually avoided engagement. These meetings aimed to finalise decisions on the demolition of all unsafe structures.
In early 2024, Public Works succeeded only in removing the asbestos roofing, leaving the broken walls, window frames and rubble behind. Over time, this debris has been stolen piece by piece, and the perimeter fence has been trampled down and broken open.
As a result, unrestricted access to the hospital grounds now exists directly from the street, putting residents and hospital staff at further risk.
I requested assistance from DA MPL David Masoeu, and on two occasions, the DA met with the HOD in his office. The final commitment obtained was that the Department of Health would budget for a new perimeter fence to prevent unauthorised access. However, despite numerous calls in the Legislature for the rubble to be removed and for Health and Public Works to coordinate efforts, no agreement has ever materialised.
Now, at the end of 2025, the site remains untouched, an alarming reflection of how little priority the ANC government places on the health and safety of nearby residents and legislative members.
In January, all parties will be invited to attend the arranged site inspection, where they must commit to a clear plan to secure, clean and rehabilitate the hospital grounds for the people of Wilgehof.