Generators, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment have been salvaged from the abandoned Anglo Ashanti Hospital, on the West Rand, which is set to treat Covid patients in 2021.
Medical equipment, morgue, bathroom, kitchen and fire were also rescued from the hospital.
This was revealed by DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom
Bloom said he got the information from a report he presented at a meeting with the Gauteng Legislative Oversight Committee at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He said the equipment was kept to try and recoup some of the money spent on refurbishing, equipping and staffing the Anglo Ashanti Hospital.
He added that zama zamas from a nearby mine had damaged the building, with bullet holes even visible in the walls.
Also read: R500m ‘blown’ at AngloGold hospital, and only has ‘six patients’
The rescue of the hospital equipment came after a committee – originally created by former prime minister David Makhura – was unable to find an alternative use for the building.
“There is no political accountability for the fundamentally stupid decision to provide ICU beds in facilities with security far from population centers,” Bloom said.
In December, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said six government officials had been charged over the cost of repairs at the hospital.
The Gauteng Department of Health terminated the lease at the AngloGold Ashanti hospital in August.
Bloom seemed to want more answers.
“The DA has pressed for the minutes of the Gauteng Provincial Command Council where the decision was taken to upgrade this hospital, and then it was approved by the entire Provincial Executive Council.
“We need to know who these champions are, and whether they have anything to do with corrupt people who profit while patients suffer in under-resourced hospitals.
“Efforts to recover money from this fiasco are desirable, but it should never have happened in the first place, and criminal charges should be made when the investigation is completed,” Bloom.
Also read: Company hired to refurbish AngloGold hospital loses bid to get rid of SIU preservation order
Thorns on the side
Anglo Ashanti Hospital has been a thorn in the side of the Gauteng government since 2020.
It is reported that around R500 million was spent on renovating the building to provide 181 ICU beds. Another R200 million was spent on staff and equipment for the brief period when 147 Covid patients were treated there.
“That’s a total of R4.8 million for each patient!” said Bloom.
SIU is investigating how the project ballooned from the initial budget of R50 million, and it hopes that about R240 million can be recovered from the contractor, he said.
*Compiled by Devina Haripersad