The Free State Health Crisis Coalition marched to the Park Road Police Station and the Free State Authority today to demand that the investigation against Free State Health MEC, Benny Malakoane, be concluded. The coalition, led by Treatment Action Campaign, want the two-year corruption investigation against the MEC to be completed.
Stop Stockout Projects trainer, Dipuo Mosehle, says the MEC robbed an elderly lady of a good chance of recovery when she was forced to give up a bed in ICU for a relative of then Agriculture minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, at the Dihlabeng Hospital (in Bethlehem) in June 2014.
“Our MEC, Benny Malakoane, ordered an ICU bed to be given to a patient despite the fact that the responsible doctor found that the patient did not qualify for the bed. We have opened a case against MEC Malakoane and we are here to see that police are doing their job in terms of that case,” Mosehle said
The organisation say the key piece of the investigation, that has delayed for so long, is a subpoena to Zwane.
The coalition are expecting a reply from the law enforcement agencies by the 19th of May.
The Free State Health Crisis Coalition so far includes: Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC), Freedom of Expression Network, Hospersa, Khothalang Mental Disability, MACUA, Free State Community Healthcare Workers Taskteam, NUMSA, People’s Health Movement, Petsana Resident’s Association, Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP), Right2Know, SECTION27, Stars Youth Club, Stop Stockouts Project, Treatment Action Campaign, and the United Front.
Moeketsi Mogotsi/Bloemfontein Courant
