Latest news with #MotalataleModiba

The Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- The Herald
Health department denies mortuary problems
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said while the hospital had experienced printing service issues between June 17 and 23, contingency plans were put in place and all affected families had been assisted by Tuesday. 'Contrary to the sensationalised report, the facility's mortuary currently has only one body of a patient who was declared dead on arrival on Wednesday, 25 June. The family of the deceased was eventually traced to KwaZulu-Natal and was notified accordingly,' said Modiba. He said the delay in printing services was due to delayed payments to two service providers, but this had been resolved. 'The department would like to reiterate that currently Helen Joseph Hospital has no corpses that are outstanding and awaiting to be processed as a result of printing challenges,' Modiba said. However, the funeral association's Johan Rousseau on Sunday said the problem had affected at least six cases. 'We've got a serious problem. 'Officials don't understand the trauma this causes for families. Funeral parlours get frustrated because they cannot assist the family properly and in the absence of a regulator or ombudsman there's little recourse,' he said. DA Gauteng spokesperson for health Madeleine Hicklin called on MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to take accountability. 'Despite her shouting from the rooftops that the department is functioning well, the fact that paperwork for the deceased could not be processed shows that the department is irrevocably broken,' Hicklin said. SowetanLIVE


The South African
3 days ago
- Health
- The South African
Gauteng Health denies body backlog at Helen Joseph Hospital
The Gauteng Department of Health has firmly rejected claims that Helen Joseph Hospital experienced a backlog in processing deceased patients due to a shortage of printer cartridges. ADVERTISEMENT The Democratic Alliance (DA) alleged that corpses could not be transferred to government mortuaries for almost two weeks because of printing delays. However, the department clarified that the hospital currently has only one body in its mortuary, a patient who was declared dead on arrival last Wednesday. Gauteng Health Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba explained that the patient was unidentified at arrival but has since been linked to a family in KwaZulu-Natal. 'The body will now be handed over to the forensic services on Monday,' Modiba confirmed. ADVERTISEMENT Temporary printing issues resolved at Helen Joseph Hospital While the department acknowledged that the hospital did experience technical difficulties, it insists the matter was handled promptly. Modiba said printing problems occurred between 17 and 23 June due to delayed payments to service providers. Despite this, the hospital implemented contingency plans to continue operations. 'Five pending cases were processed by 24 June,' he said. Modiba said that the department had acted to resolve the matter. 'The department would like to reiterate that currently Helen Joseph Hospital has no corpses that are outstanding and awaiting to be processed as a result of printing challenges,' he added. DA criticism met with pushback The Democratic Alliance's claims of mismanagement and neglect at the Helen Joseph Hospital have drawn criticism from the department, which views the allegations as misleading. The department maintains that all patients have been processed appropriately and that no backlog exists. It also reassured the public that steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence of such technical issues. Is public trust in healthcare institutions at risk when administrative issues are politicised? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News
6 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Unauthorised door-to-door circumcision drive in Gauteng gets officials hot under the collar
The Gauteng Department of Health has issued a warning after a video went viral on social media, wherein a woman is seen recruiting boys for voluntary medical male circumcision on behalf of an unidentified doctor in Tshwane. Image: File The Gauteng Department of Health has warned communities against groups of people going around recruiting men and boys for circumcision drives, purporting to represent the provincial department. The Gauteng Department of Health has urged communities to be cautious of people conducting unauthorised recruitment drives for circumcision. 'The Gauteng Department of Health would like to advise communities that no person or organisation is permitted to conduct door-to-door recruitment for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) on behalf of the department. This comes after a video went viral on social media, wherein a woman is seen recruiting boys for VMMC on behalf of an unidentified doctor in Tshwane,' said spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba. 'The department urges communities to be cautious of people conducting unauthorised recruitment for circumcision. The safety and dignity of all residents is of paramount importance, therefore, any individual or group found misrepresenting themselves as government officials or operating without authorisation will be reported to the South African Police Service and may face criminal charges.' Modiba emphasised that the voluntary medical male circumcision procedures must only be performed under safe, sterile and medically approved conditions. The provincial department has contracted qualified service providers to deliver VMMC services across all five health districts in Gauteng. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'These services are offered free of charge and are only performed at designated approved sites. A comprehensive list can be accessed on: The public is encouraged to contact their relevant district health officials to verify the legitimacy of those rendering VMMC services,' said Modiba. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Earlier this month, IOL reported that government launched the 2025 Winter Customary Initiation Season with a focused effort involving several key departments working together to protect the lives and wellbeing of initiates. The effort brings together the Departments of Health, Basic Education, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the SAPS, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), all working to enforce regulations, support families, and eliminate illegal initiation schools. The season was officially opened on May 31 under the theme 'Mabaye Bephila, Babuye Bephila', meaning 'They must go alive and come back alive'. This message underpins a broader government commitment to reducing deaths and injuries linked to unsafe initiation practices, which have been a persistent challenge in some communities. IOL News


News24
23-06-2025
- Health
- News24
No money for fire safety: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital's R1.7bn budget crisis
Parts of the facility are currently undergoing repairs following a devastating fire incident in April 2021. The repair work is progressing well and on track, but the total budget required to ensure fire compliance was not funded. The department is actively exploring various funding options and private investments to support this critical phase. The Gauteng department of health has confirmed that there is no budget allocated for the R1.7 billion required for fire compliance measures to prevent future fires at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. Parts of the facility are currently undergoing repairs following a devastating fire incident in April 2021. While the repair work is progressing well and on track, the department lamented that the total budget required to ensure fire compliance was not funded. Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said: The department is actively exploring various funding options and private investments to support this critical phase. Already, the initial feasibility report and the concept report have been approved, and a business case is being developed. He said, remarkably, the hospital was currently operating at a bed capacity that exceeds pre-fire levels, ensuring that patient care continues uninterrupted despite the ongoing construction. Modiba explained that the repairs were structured in two phases, saying Phase 1 focused on repairing Blocks 4 and 5 North, with completion targeted for August next year. Phase 1 has been allocated a budget of R426 million, with R139 million already spent as of April 2025. Major milestones achieved so far include the completion of the radiation oncology unit and the accident and emergency department, which are now fully operational. A new state-of-the-art dry store facility has been built, and fire doors have been installed throughout most parts of the hospital. Additionally, according to the department, a temporary access ramp has been constructed, providing 300 parking bays at the P3 level. Modiba said to minimise disruption, the hospital has implemented an operational strategy that keeps services within the facility rather than dispersing them across other locations. Jack Bloom DA member of the Gauteng legislature Jack Bloom has charged that it was completely unacceptable that it will take more than five years to restore the hospital, only for it to remain non-compliant with basic fire prevention laws. Bloom said: 'The DA calls for an urgent, fast-tracked public-private partnership to bring in private expertise, complete the repairs, and ensure the entire facility is fully compliant with fire safety standards without further delay.' He added that this would never be tolerated in the private sector and that patients paid the price, shuffled from one area to another, and were forced to endure long distances due to inadequate parking.


The Citizen
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Gauteng Health sounds alarm over measles outbreak
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has intensified its public health response following a continued rise in measles cases across the province. • Also read: West Rand's emergency medical services (EMS) under pressure: One responder for every 900 residents Motalatale Modiba, head of communications at GDoH, stated that there have been 181 confirmed cases reported between January 1 and June 13, with numerous cases emerging from the Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni districts. 'This persistent outbreak follows previous clusters dating back to 2022, which led to a measles vaccination campaign in 2023. In the latest reporting period, Gauteng recorded 15 new measles cases, 10 of which were reported in Tshwane, two in Johannesburg, two in Ekurhuleni, and one in West Rand. The outbreak has revealed a concerning immunity gap in the province, specifically among children who are either not fully vaccinated or have never received the measles or rubella vaccine,' Modiba said. Modiba added that the immunisation coverage for the second dose of the measles vaccine remains below 75% in Johannesburg, significantly below the level required to prevent outbreaks. This has contributed to the steady increase in cases, including among people who had previously been vaccinated, and even some adults. 'In the Johannesburg district, the department implemented a targeted response by vaccinating contacts and conducting outbreak campaigns in areas including Diepsloot, Midrand, Cosmo City, Hillbrow, and Rosettenville. To date, more than 3,500 people have been vaccinated in the district, with further campaigns scheduled for busy community sites including the Diepsloot and Cosmo City taxi ranks. The West Rand and Sedibeng districts, while not currently experiencing outbreaks, remain on high alert. 'GDoH is working closely with districts to strengthen surveillance, ensure rapid response, and improve vaccination coverage. The department is expected to embark on a comprehensive four-week province-wide vaccination campaign as part of broader intervention activities,' Modiba said. The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, has urged all parents and guardians to ensure their children are vaccinated, encouraging them to work with health teams conducting school and community campaigns. 'We must close the immunity gap in our communities and prevent further spread of the highly contagious diseases, particularly measles and rubella. Vaccination is simple, safe, and is our best protection against harmful diseases. We encourage everyone to support our outreach teams and protect our children's health,' Nkomo-Ralehoko stated. The public is reminded that people who are infected with measles must isolate at home for at least seven days to prevent further transmission. 'All suspected cases are provided with Vitamin A supplements to reduce the risk of complications. The department remains committed to containing the spread of measles and rubella in the province and urges the public to remain vigilant, get vaccinated, and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and those around them,' Modiba concluded. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!