Maile: ‘Huge possibility’ Baragwanath Hospital copper pipe theft was inside job

While addressing the media during a site visit to assess the extent of the damage at the hospital on Friday, Human Settlement and Infrastructure Development MEC Lebogang Maile indicated there was a “huge possibility” the theft was an inside job.

“There is a huge possibility that this is the work of internal people because where these pipes are located it’s not everyone who knows. You must be working in the hospital to have access and to know their location.”

Copper pipes from a plant room supplying two general surgery theatres with high-pressured water were stolen just days after the hospital replaced a 10-meter copper pipe supplying oxygen to the intensive care unit (ICU), forcing the emergency evacuation of over 20 patients.

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Maile says government will not hesitate to act, should the suspicions be confirmed.

“The hospital has already opened a case with the police and there is an investigation. If we find that any of our officials are implicated, we will act decisively and mercilessly,” he adds.

He explained that though the oxygen pipe had been repaired, it is temporary.

“The [pipes] have been replaced, though the [pipe] for the oxygen is smaller; it’s not the same diameter size; because the suppliers are closed. They have however made a plan to ensure that patients are not affected. It is replaced, but will be replaced when we get the proper size in January.”

In another incident, heavy rains on Wednesday led to extensive roof leaks in Ward 38 of the hospital.  Repairs are currently underway with the expectation that the ward will be operational by Monday.

The hospital’s CEO Dr Nkele Lesia confirmed service has been restored.

“Services in ICU are continuing, patients in ICU are already relocated. The two theatres that were affected by the theft of the copper pipe that supplies water to theatres 15 and 16, that has also been replaced so the theatres are ok now,” she says.

Lesia has commended the staff for their prompt response to evacuate patients. She adds, should it be found that one of their own was behind the alleged acts of sabotage she would be disappointed.

“I am disappointed. There are indications that there was some collusion even if the person is from outside. If you look at the areas they broke into, somebody wouldn’t have done that without somebody from within assisting [them]. It’s very concerning, that people working within a hospital environment could have such dubious thoughts that they can sabotage services to this extent because this is a matter of life or death. All those patents could have perished.”

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Meanwhile, Maile has indicated that they are waiting for the probe to determine how government, through the health department which is responsible for the security contracts, will act on the possible security breaches at the hospital.

The MEC admits there are some security challenges, he also says they hope to meet with the premier and other relevant departments to pave a concrete way forward to address infrastructure issues at Bara.