Note to Editors: Please find Dr Imran Keeka, MPL sound bite in English
The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has called for drastic measures from the ANC/EFF-run eThekwini Municipality as taps run dry at hospitals within the province’s only metro.
Recent reports that there is little to no water at some of KZN’s largest hospitals are extremely disturbing. This as Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (PMMH), RK Khan, Mahatma Gandhi and Victoria Mxenge Hospital (formerly King Edward Hospital) – all of which cater to thousands of KZN residents – are literally left dry.
Water is vital within our hospitals. The fact that it is not readily available for human consumption has left patients and staff suffering and is a violation of the most basic of human rights.
Water is also critical in terms of infection control. This includes surgeons scrubbing before performing operations, during the delivery of babies and for the sterilisation of surgical instruments, to name just a few. Added to this is the severe health hazard that a lack of water poses in terms of cleaning of facilities, flushing of toilets and washing hands.
The reality is that eThekwini hospitals without water are a ticking time bomb about to be set off by an incompetent, dysfunctional municipality with a rotten ANC/EFF coalition at its core. This disastrous state of affairs cannot continue and Mayor Cyril Xaba and his City Manager Musa Mbhele must act now or they will have blood on their hands.
In his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about the challenges facing eThekwini in a manner which suggests that he is not fully aware of the situation on the ground. The DA has invited him to see for himself – an invitation that must now be extended to eThekwini’s hospitals so that he can witness the true extent of the crisis.
The DA will work swiftly to find a slot for KZN’s Health portfolio committee to visit PMMH as the situation there continues to deteriorate. We will also continue to engage with our eThekwini public representatives in a bid to prevent further suffering. We remain fully committed to holding eThekwini’s so-called leadership to account.