Pretoria - The KwaZulu-Natal Health Department has cancelled contracts with six private companies who were providing security services in clinics and hospitals in a move aimed at improving the safety of patients and staff as well as government property.
This follows investigations by the department into some of the companies, which uncovered irregularities on Private Security Regulations Authority prescripts, claiming for work not done, providing under qualified personnel, using unlicensed firearms and defrauding the department.
The department gave the security companies, Mvimbeni, Madlula, Titan, Labalela, Mahona and Gcinemfa letters requesting them to vacate the sites they work in within 24 hours.
Other security companies have been appointed to replace the security companies in all the sites.
The department's Security Manager, Madoda Mpinda, said the companies had month-to-month contracts with the department and due to the investigation currently underway into their operations, the department felt it proper to ask them to leave the sites.
"It was also to ensure that the department does not suffer in any way if they are allowed to serve the month's notice. We have advised them that we would pay them for the month's notice," Mpinda said.
In recent months, a number of hospitals and clinics have been experiencing security problems, including computers being stolen at Ngwelezane Hospital and a patient who disappeared from the same hospital and was later found dead on the hospital grounds.
Another incident includes the discovery of a decomposed body found in the toilets of the lecture theatre at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.
Provincial Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has voiced the department's concerns regarding the safety and security in many public clinics and hospitals, noting that the safety of patients and government property was at risk.
