Hospitals need generators: DA

Speaking at a clinic in Protea South, Soweto, during the handover of a generator, Maimane said that apart from hurting the economy, power cuts literally cost lives.

 

"Residents here protested over six months ago calling for a stable power supply at the clinic. But like the cries of so many people, it has fallen on... deaf ears," he said.

 

"Elsewhere in Gauteng even larger healthcare facilities, like Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, are also suffering from power failures and dysfunctional generators."

 

He said the premier must ensure every healthcare facilitity in Gauteng had a generator and sufficient fuel stock to maintain power during power cuts, while facilities that needed refrigeration should be given mobile generators.

 

A disaster management centre should also be established so emergency services, traffic management and communications could co-ordinate during power-cuts.

 

"If the premier [Nomvula Mokonyane] really cared about the people of Gauteng she wouldn't have been looking for publicity at the Oscar Pistorious trial this week," he said.

 

"Instead the premier should have ensured that generators were delivered to every public facility in need."

 

Mokonyane was at the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday where Pistorius is on trial for shooting dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through a locked bathroom door.

 

Maimane said power cuts and a lack of political will in Gauteng forced people in places such as Protea South to find healthcare at other facilities, which were often too far away.

 

It was unacceptable that Mokonyane had not already put measures in place to deal with power cuts, he said.

 

-Sapa