Magashule must fire Health MEC Malakoane

04 July 2014

Free State Premier Ace Magashule must fire his MEC for Health, Dr Benny Malakoane immediately. 

It is alleged that MEC Malakoane interfered with ICU admission procedures at the Dihlabeng Hospital in Bethlehem. He abused his power and privilege to force the hospital to make an ICU bed immediately available in order to admit an ANC connected individual (see Mail & Guardian report).

There are only three ICU beds available at the Dihlabeng Hospital. According to reports other patients in need of intensive care were dropped from the list in order to make bed space available for MEC Malakoane's politically connected friend.  

This latest revelation of gross misconduct exposed today is unacceptable. 

Health facilities across the Free State are struggling to feed patients. At some facilities medicine has run out leaving medical personnel unable to administer medicine. Various other hospitals can't attend to those in need of surgery due to a lack of equipment and critical professional medical staff shortages.

The DA in the Free State has repeatedly called on Premier Ace Magashule to fire Health MEC Malakoane, to no avail. 

We have reported the Provincial Department of Health and MEC Malakoane to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) last week, requesting it to investigate Human Rights violations perpetuated against the people of the Fee State. 

Statement issued by Roy Jankielsohn, DA Leader of the Official Opposition in the Free State legislature, July 4 2014

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