Steve Biko Academic Hospital

Academic Hospital’s acting chief executive Dr Mathabo Mathebula has denied allegations that the hospital’s oncology ward was under capacity and on the verge of collapse. “We need to clarify that at no stage was there a shut down. At no stage was there any machines broken down, it was the air conditioning that was being repaired and we battled to fix it. “It got repaired over time for two months, it was being repaired by the Department of Infrastructure until we resorted to calling the machine manufacturers to install the air cooling system that is now working,” Mathebula said. She was briefing the media after the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) conducted a site inspection at the hospital following the allegations, earlier today. Media reports alleged that about 934 cancer patients were awaiting radiation treatment at the hospital. There were also reports about the hospital’s failure to recruit an adequate number of staff and repair the broken down …

MANAGEMENT at Steve Biko Academic Hospital yesterday terminated the contract of the Born to Protect security company after its employees embarked on an unprotected strike, which massively disrupted services. More than 200 security officers barricaded the hospital’s entrances with rocks, burning tyres and rubble from the morning, claiming they had not been paid. Police eventually intervened. The guards also threatened to shut down the hospital today should payments not be made by the end of business yesterday. The guards said they were striking due to their payments being delayed and some not getting paid at all. The hospital’s acting chief executive, Dr Mathabo Mathebula, said management was terminating the services of the company as the non-payment allegations and delays were not happening for the first time. “Whether they are paid or not, the alternative is for us to terminate the contract with the company; they are privately employed by the company that is workin…

Steve Biko Academic Hospital

Allegations denied that Steve Biko Academic Hospital is on the verge of collapse

Guards cause havoc at Steve Biko Hospital – angry security staff strike over pay