Latest news with #R1.7bn
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Telephone lines down at two major Gauteng hospitals
Technicians are working to restore connectivity at Charlotte Maxeke and Chris Hani Baragwanath hospitals. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has confirmed that telephone lines at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital are currently offline due to suspected damage to optical fibre cables. According to the department, the disruption has affected both incoming and outgoing calls at the two major public healthcare facilities, severely limiting telephone communication with patients, staff, and service providers. Fibre cable damage suspected In a statement on Sunday, the department said technical teams had been dispatched and were working to resolve the issue. 'Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital are currently experiencing technical difficulties with their telephone systems, suspected to be linked to damaged optical fibre cables,' said the department. 'Two separate cases have been logged with Telkom, and technicians are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full telephone functionality as soon as possible.' ALSO READ: Alarm raised over 'R1.7bn fire safety gap' at Charlotte Maxeke hospital While efforts to repair the fibre cables are underway, members of the public have been urged to use temporary contact numbers to reach the hospitals. 'In the meantime, the public can contact the hospitals using the alternative numbers provided to reach the appropriate service points,' the department advised. These alternative numbers are available on the department's website and official social media platforms. The department apologised for the inconvenience caused and called for patience as technicians work to resolve the problem. 'We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,' the statement concluded. ALSO READ: Gauteng health officials raise alarm over baby abductions Water supply restored to Gauteng health facilities Furthermore, water supply has been restored to nearly all Gauteng public health facilities that were affected by Johannesburg Water's ongoing infrastructure maintenance. Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba confirmed on Saturday that Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Rand Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, and Alexandra Community Health Centre (CHC) were now back to full water supply. 'We are pleased that most of our facilities impacted by the ongoing maintenance work have had their water supply restored as of Thursday afternoon,' said Modiba. ALSO READ: Gauteng health rubbishes claims of corpses left in 'limbo' at Helen Joseph Hospital Hillbrow CHC still affected However, Hillbrow Community Health Centre remains affected due to ongoing water supply issues in the surrounding area. 'The entire Hillbrow area is still impacted. We continue to rely on Johannesburg Water to supply tankers to refill JoJo tanks on site,' Modiba said, adding that services at the facility have not been interrupted. Call for cooperation and understanding Modiba thanked the public for their patience and emphasised the importance of ongoing infrastructure maintenance. 'This maintenance work is critical for the future security of the water supply in the province,' he said. 'We must continue cooperating with utilities like Rand Water and Johannesburg Water, especially when they issue notices about planned interruptions.' He reiterated that while emergency plans remain in place, the department is working closely with water utilities and municipalities to minimise disruptions. 'We truly appreciate the work being done in this area,' Modiba said. NOW READ: Water interruptions affect major Gauteng hospitals
The Citizen
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Team appointed to probe death at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital
The death of the patient was circulated on social media. A nine-member investigation team has been appointed to probe the alleged death of a long-term patient at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital in the North West province. North West MEC for Health Sello Lehari appointed the team on Tuesday, which will also investigate a separate incident involving a patient who allegedly absconded from Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. Probe North West Health Department spokesperson Tshegofatso Mothibedi said the investigation team, led by seasoned clinician Professor John Tumbo, comprises experienced managers from diverse disciplines and areas of expertise to ensure a thorough and objective inquiry. ALSO READ: Fire claims patient in female psych unit at Dr George Mukhari Hospital 'While acknowledging that the incident at Witrand Psychiatric Hospital is also under police investigation, MEC Lehari urged the public and affected parties to allow both the internal and police inquiries to unfold without interference.' Transparency Lehari emphasised the department's commitment to accountability and transparency. 'We acted swiftly when we picked up reports circulating on social media regarding the alleged death of a long-term patient at the hospital. I visited the hospital on Saturday to receive a preliminary report. As I promised, today I am here to officially announce the team that will conduct the investigation into this matter. This team will also look into the case of a patient who allegedly absconded from Mahikeng Provincial Hospital. 'We are deeply concerned about these incidents and are determined to get to the bottom of what transpired. We owe it to the families, the patients, and the broader community to ensure that the matter is thoroughly probed,' Lehari said. Findings Lehari added that the terms of reference for the investigation have been finalised and handed over to the team, which is expected to commence its work immediately. The investigation team is expected to present the report and its findings to the MEC by 1 August 2025. Concerns Concerns over Witrand Hospital's conditions are not new. Workers at the hospital allege that the lack of adequate food, toiletries, and regular power outages has contributed to patient illnesses and deaths. According to the workers, equipment in the laundry facility, including boilers, is out of order, forcing patients to bathe in cold water and contend with dirty clothes and linen. ALSO READ: Alarm raised over 'R1.7bn fire safety gap' at Charlotte Maxeke hospital
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Charlotte Maxeke repairs on track, says Gauteng Health
Phase one, which includes demolition and reconstruction work in critical areas, is expected to be completed by August 2026. The Gauteng Department of Health on Monday confirmed that the remedial work to repair the fire-damaged Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) is progressing well and remains on schedule. The hospital suffered significant damage in a fire in April 2021. Since then, the department has made 'significant strides' in restoring operations, with the hospital now operating at a bed capacity that exceeds pre-fire levels. Project in two phases The repair project is being conducted in two phases. Phase one focuses on repairing Blocks 4 and 5 North, while phase two will involve hospital-wide fire compliance upgrades, which require R1.7 billion in funding. According to the department, a prefeasibility report and concept report have already been approved, and a business case is being developed. 'The department is actively exploring various funding options and private investments to support this critical phase,' it said. Phase one, which includes demolition and reconstruction work in critical areas, is expected to be completed by August 2026. As of April 2025, R139 million of the allocated R426 million budget for Work Package One has been spent. ALSO READ: Alarm raised over 'R1.7bn fire safety gap' at Charlotte Maxeke hospital Restoration milestones reached Key areas that have already been restored and are operational include the Radiation Oncology Unit and the Accident and Emergency Department. 'A new state-of-the-art dry store facility has been constructed to enhance the storage and accessibility of vital medical supplies,' said the department. To improve safety, new fire doors have been installed throughout much of the hospital. A temporary access ramp has also been constructed, enabling staff to access 300 parking bays at the P3 level, although fire-damaged bays remain closed until they are fully repaired. ALSO READ: Operations continue at Tembisa hospital after second fire in less than a week Patient care remains central The department assured the public that safety and care remain top priorities. Instead of scattering services across multiple facilities, the hospital has adopted a decanting strategy to rotate services internally during the ongoing construction. 'This approach ensures that all services remain within the hospital for better patient care,' the department said. Hospital management and project teams have implemented safety measures and committed to maintaining open communication with staff and stakeholders as work progresses. NOW READ: Gauteng Health's warning for parents
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Funding crisis looms for SA Post Office and Post Bank as rescue practitioners prepare to exit
The National Treasury firmly ruled itself out as an option to recapitalise SAPO. Image: Supplied Uncertainty surrounds the funding of about R7 billion needed to recapitalise both the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Post Bank after National Treasury firmly ruled itself out as an option. This comes as the SAPO Business Rescue Practitioners prepare to exit the process, leaving the entity with a R1.7bn paper profit. During a briefing to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Digital Technologies and Communications on Tuesday, SAPO's group acting CEO, Fathima Gany, expressed the urgency of the situation. Gany said SAPO required R3.8bn to efficiently run its extensive network of 657 branches while integrating necessary digitisation capabilities. "The magic number is R3.8bn. It could be anything else, unfortunately the fiscus doesn't have the ability to give us that and we have to appreciate that. How do we get SAPO fit for business to operate in this futuristic space that's digitalised?" Gany said. "We don't know what the funding model will be as we go out to the market. It has to be a hybrid because if it's not a hybrid and we turn only to the fiscus and the answer is no, then its a futile discussion on how to get SAPO ready for business." 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Gany said the Post Office had settled all historical and outstanding debt through the business rescue process in a compromise that saw 12 cents to the rand paid out to the creditors, with the remainder flushed into the profit and loss account. She said SAPO looked like it made profits but those were none cash profits, and they were on the back of expenses while there were some creditors in dispute and immaterial amount. Gany said SAPO was close to finalising a service-level agreement with the Post Bank in the services it delivers to it, and some of the commercial revenue streams envisaged from postal branches. Meanwhile, Post Bank acting CEO Nikki Mbengashe said it was unclear how the bank could structure the at least R3bn required for it to serve the identified niche. Mbengashe said one of the options was to obtain guarantees from the National Treasury to enable the bank to raise funding without necessarily diluting the shareholding. "How much funding do we need? A lot if we really want to build branches, if we want to build digital presence. We don't have ATMs, branches and the infrastructure we need to have to provide digital capabilities," Mbengashe said. "The minimum is R3bn. We have done that exercise, we are engaging with the board in our next meeting. We have no intention of privatising the Post Bank, but we do need funding therefore we need to find options. We have gone to the National Treasury three times and three times the National Treasury has said no." Cape Argus
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SA Post Office, Post Bank face R7bn funding crisis as rescue practitioners prepare exit
This comes as the SAPO Business Rescue Practitioners prepare to exit the process, leaving the entity with a R1.7bn paper profit. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives Banele Ginidza Uncertainty surrounds the funding of about R7 billion needed to recapitalise both the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Post Bank after National Treasury firmly ruled itself out as an option. This comes as the SAPO Business Rescue Practitioners prepare to exit the process, leaving the entity with a R1.7bn paper profit. During a briefing to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Digital Technologies and Communications on Tueaday, SAPO's Group acting CEO, Fathima Gany, expressed the urgency of the situation. Gany said SAPO required R3.8bn to efficiently run its extensive network of 657 branches while integrating necessary digitisation capabilities. "The magic number is R3.8bn. It could be anything else, unfortunately the fiscus doesn't have the ability to give us that and we have to appreciate that. How do we get SAPO fit for business to operate in this futuristic space that's digitalised?" Gany said. "We don't know what the funding model will be as we go out to the market. It has to be a hybrid because if it's not a hybrid and we turn only to the fiscus and the answer is no, then its a futile discussion on how to get SAPO ready for business." 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 Gany said the Post Office had settled all historical and outstanding debt through the business rescue process in a compromise that saw 12 cents to the rand paid out to the creditiors, with the remainder flushed into the profit and loss account. She said SAPO looked like it made profits but those were none cash profits, and they were on the back of expenses while there were some creditors in dispute and immaterial amount. Gany said SAPO was close to finalising a service-level agreement with the Post Bank in the services it delivers to it, and some of the commercial revenue streams envisaged from postal branches. Meanwhile, Post Bank acting CEO Nikki Mbengashe said it was unclear how the bank could structure the at least R3bn required for it to serve the identified niche. Mbengashe said one of the options was to obtain guarantees from the National Treasury to enable the bank to raise funding without necessarily diluting the shareholding. "How much funding do we need? A lot if we really want to build branches, if we want to build digital presence. We dont have ATMs, branches and the infrastructure we need to have to provide digital capabilities," Mbengashe said. "The minimum is R3bn. We have done that exercise, we are engaging with the board in our next meeting. We have no intention of privatising the Post Bank, but we do need funding therefore we need to find options. We have gone to the National Treasury three times and three times the National Treasury has said no."
