The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands urgent intervention from the MEC of Health, Nontobeko Vilakazi, following alarming safety and infrastructure failures at Jan Kempdorp Hospital, where the entire exterior of the facility has reportedly been plunged into darkness.
The DA has submitted a complaint to MEC Vilakazi and will continue to monitor developments closely to ensure accountability and urgent corrective action at this critical healthcare facility.
Security personnel stationed at the hospital entrance are being forced to carry out their duties without electricity, relying solely on cellphone flashlights to monitor access to the premises. This shocking failure of basic infrastructure not only compromises security, but places the lives of staff, patients, and security officers at serious risk.
The hospital grounds, including parking areas and surrounding walkways, are also without lighting, creating ideal conditions for criminal activity. Reports of vandalism and the theft of copper pipes have already surfaced, further damaging an already overburdened healthcare facility and placing public resources at risk.
Healthcare workers are expected to report for duty and care for patients under unsafe and undignified conditions, while vulnerable patients and visitors must navigate a dark and insecure environment to access critical medical services.
Adding to the crisis, the roads leading into the hospital are in a severely deteriorated condition and are also without lighting. This poses a major danger to motorists, ambulances, and emergency personnel attempting to access the facility, particularly at night.
This situation is unacceptable and reflects a broader pattern of negligence, poor maintenance, and infrastructure collapse under the watch of the responsible authorities.
The DA therefore calls for immediate and decisive action to:
- Restore electricity to the security gate and all affected exterior areas without delay;
- Install, repair, and maintain adequate lighting throughout the hospital grounds;
- Urgently repair and maintain all access roads to the facility; and
- Strengthen security measures to protect patients, healthcare workers, visitors, and public infrastructure.
No hospital should operate under conditions that endanger lives and undermine public confidence in the healthcare system.