Staff Protest Daily Car Thefts at Joburg Hospital Despite R32-Million Annual Security

Some staff members at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (CMJH) in South Africa are picketing today to protest the daily thefts of their cars… which they say management is ignoring.

Jack Bloom, DA Shadow Minister of Health in Gauteng says: “I have spoken to nurses who tell me that two or more cars are stolen daily, and they are in constant worry about the safety of their vehicles.

“Following the fire at the hospital in April this year, staff have had to park their cars in different places, including the street outside.

“The thefts occur despite a whopping amount of R40.1 million that is spent annually on security at CMJH.”

According to an official reply to Bloom’s questions in the Gauteng Legislature earlier this year, the guards cost R2.9 million a month, and electronic camera surveillance costs R450 000 every month.

Other thefts at the hospital this year includes copper pipes worth R30 million and items worth about R200 000.

“There has been an inexcusable delay in new tenders for security at all Gauteng hospitals. The original two-year contracts expired five years ago but have been irregularly renewed on a month by month basis at a total cost of R2.6 billion,” says Bloom.

He advises that the Gauteng Health Department should urgently review its hospital security contracts to ensure value for money and effectiveness.

“Staff and patients at our hospitals should feel safe at all times and not have to worry about thefts or violent attacks which are disgustingly prevalent,” Bloom says.