The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration conducted unannounced visits to the Department of Home Affairs and Mamelodi Regional Hospital in Pretoria yesterday as part of its oversight programme in the Gauteng Province where it visits government departments and entities.
The centre manager informed the committee that the centre was classified as a large office which offered full package of services that include smart cards and passports applications and marriage, birth and death registrations. The centre is assisted by a mobile home affairs truck when there is an overflow of clients who came to the centre for any service among the services that are offered.
The committee heard that the centre experiences long queues because of space limitation and appealed to the committee for assistance to get a bigger place. The committee heard that the people who arrive at the centre in the morning and who have travelled a long distance to reach the centre, should go back home without assistance and come back the following day when the system is offline.
The committee visited Mamelodi Regional Hospital where it was impressed by the manner in which the hospital is maintained and its structured operations. The Chief Operating Officer, Dr Naing Soe informed the committee that he was appointed two years ago at the hospital. The committee heard that the hospital is able to collect 100% of its targeted revenue collection of R5.1 million.
The committee was informed that waiting time for patients at the Out Patients Department was reduced significantly and the waiting area was revamped. It heard that part of the hospital is currently under renovation and construction and in September this year, there will be 10 new additional service areas to the hospital and that includes the extension of the maternity ward to accommodate 20 additional beds.
The committee was informed that currently the hospital has a capacity of 400 beds and has 1112 full-time staff complement with 126 posts for sessional employees on contract to assist specifically with the Covid-19 pandemic and related cases.
The Dr Soe informed the committee that the hospital is noting a rise in Covid-19 cases in Pretoria East and is busy with preparations for the 5th wave. Furthermore, he informed the committee that he and his clinical team still do clinical work to alleviate the waiting time of patients and no patient is turned away from the hospital.
The acting Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Teliswa Mgweba, commended Dr Soe for running the hospital well and for working within the budget. “We have noted with appreciation the excellent manner in which the hospital is run and managed. Keep up the good work of serving the people,” added Ms Mgweba.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
