GAUTENG HEALTH MEC SHOULD RESPECT THE COURTS

I reject with contempt the accusation by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu that the Sheriff of the court is "collaborating with the opposition".

This is an extremely serious accusation that undermines confidence in the impartiality of the courts. What is her evidence for this?

She should rather respect the courts and pay up promptly when medical negligence pay-outs are ordered.

This is why we had the spectacle last week on Friday when a furniture removal van arrived outside the department's head office to remove furniture that had been attached by the Sheriff of the court.

In term of a last-minute agreement, the R6.1 million payment will be done today, otherwise the furniture will be removed.

The money is due for Ms Matshidiso Matlawa for her daughter Lethabo who was brain-damaged due to lack of oxygen when she was born five years ago at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

She won her case on 17 August this year, but the department's delayed payment means that penalty interest has accumulated to R96 540.

According to her attorney Gary Austin, over the last few years he has not had a single judgment complied with on time by the department. The money is only paid once assets are attached by the Sheriff of the court.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura should rebuke Mahlangu for her baseless accusation against the Sheriff of the court in order to deflect blame from her department's shambolic administration.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, November 24 2014

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