The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has put measures in place to ensure that all hospitals in the province have adequate linen to cater for the demand in emergency care during the festive season.

MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko conducted an oversight support visit at various facilities in the province as part of the GDoH's safer festive season campaign. The MEC was furnished with an assurance that healthcare facilities are equipped and have adequate linen for patients and functional laundries and sluice rooms.

"We are confident that all our facilities will be able to fully operate this festive season. There is no service that will not be rendered due to linen shortage. Most of our hospitals have stockpiles of linen ready for emergencies and influx of patients," said the MEC.

Tembisa Hospital's laundry services supervisor, Alfred Shezi confirmed that the facility has adequate linen and patient garments to ensue uninterrupted services this festive season.

"We are ready to accommodate and deliver the necessary healthcare services during this period. We are going to ensure that our patients have two sets of clothing for the day and linen that has been soiled will be washed using our sluice room and laundry so that we always have stock," said Shezi.

Meanwhile, the GDoH has reassured the public that several measures continue to be implemented to ensure the provision of clean linen to patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBAH).

"As previously alluded to, the facility's laundry has ageing infrastructure which requires an overhaul. In the meantime, a service provider has been appointed to carry out repairs on the laundry equipment to restore full functionality as quickly as possible. Currently three tunnel washers are out of service, with only five driers operational in tunnel washer number two. Already one out of four ironers has been successfully repaired," said Motalatale Modiba, GDoH Head of Communication.

In the interim, CHBAH linens are being laundered at Dunswart Provincial Laundry on a daily basis to ensure a consistent supply of clean linen to patients. A total of 106 staff members are deployed at the laundry to boost the operation during the day and night shifts.

Additionally, external two laundry service providers have also been appointed to further support these efforts. Already two 5-ton trucks have delivered clean linen over the weekend.

Processes are underway to restore the CHBAH laundry to better functionality as speedily as possible.

Gauteng municipal ward councillors have welcomed the Gauteng Turnaround Strategy to improve service delivery in Gauteng municipalities.

Ward councillors from all 11 municipalities in the Gauteng City Region have expressed strong support for the Gauteng Turnaround Strategy, committing to enhanced collaboration across the three spheres of government. This united approach aims to improve service delivery and uplift the lives of residents across the province.

The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) successfully hosted a Ward Councillor Imbizo on Tuesday, 10 December 2024.

This critical platform addressed pressing service delivery challenges, including water and energy security, while exploring strategies to combat crime and prepare for the 2026 local government elections.

Acting Premier, Lebogang Maile said the Imbizo held following the Local Government Summit held earlier this year acknowledged the underlying factors that are impacting negatively on municipalities such as, institutional stability, financial viability and sustainable local development and spatial restricting and climate change.

He acknowledged that there are underlying factors that impact service delivery such as municipal governance and stability and made a commitment to support municipalities as mandated by the constitution.

"National and local government will support municipalities in terms of section 154 of the constitution aimed at strengthening the capacity of municipalities to manage their own affairs," said Maile.

Key updates were also provided on strategic programmes aligned with Section 154 of the Constitution. These include the outcomes of the Local Government Turnaround Summit, efforts to strengthen food safety and by-law enforcement, and strategies for managing water security and energy demands.

The discussions also focused on the Emergency Energy Response Plan, which aims to enhance energy stability in the province, and preparations for the upcoming local government elections.

MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing challenges. He remarked, "this interaction provides a critical platform for integrated planning and empowers councillors to execute their constitutional mandate effectively. The challenges facing our municipalities require a united approach, leveraging on each other's strengths to deliver better outcomes for our people."

During the Imbizo, councillors were briefed on election-related matters, including the formula for determining the number of councillors as stipulated in Section 20 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (as amended), as well as updates on ward delimitation and the Municipal Capacity Assessments for district and local municipalities.

Safe passage out of and back into South Africa has been extended for those awaiting outcomes of their long-term visa applications, waiver requests or appeals. The enormous visa processing backlog in South Africa has been significantly reduced during the past months. However, some long outstanding applications remain, and the elevated rejection rate of late has led to high numbers of appeals in the system.

To accommodate those affected by these circumstances, Minister of Home Affairs Schreiber has once more extended the travel exemption until 31 March 2025. Those who applied for waivers or long-term temporary residence visas and not received an outcome by 30 November 2024, or who have appealed a negative decision, may continue their activities as per their last visas, OR leave the country by 31 March 2025without being banned from returning.

For specific and detailed information, kindly contact our office on 021 462 3184, or send an email to info@imcosa.co.za. Note our festive season office closure: 10am SAST on 20th December 2024 – 3rd January 2025, opening 6 January 2025.

This morning, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, launched Operation New Broom as the latest technology-driven initiative to arrest, convict and deport illegal immigrants occupying public spaces.

The first operation of what will be an ongoing nationwide campaign took place in District 6 in Cape Town, where 25 suspects were arrested while occupying land meant for restitution to the victims of forced removals. Operation New Broom tackles an old issue with new energy and technology in urban areas across the country.

The Operation uses biometric technology to verify the immigration status of suspects, eliminating the risk of fraudulent documents and building stronger legal cases.

Minister Leon Schreiber said: “As with everything else we do, Operation New Broom is guided by our commitment to the rule of law. It is this commitment that both motivates us to do more to combat illegality, and to uphold due process and legal compliance in the process.”

Schreiber concluded: “The benefits of our commitment to digital transformation are being felt across all areas of Home Affairs’ mandate, including through the strides made by the Border Management Authority at the borders and by Home Affairs inland. Our message to anyone who is in the country illegally, is clear: voluntarily deport yourself now, before we arrest and prohibit you from entering or obtaining legal status in South Africa in future.”

For media enquiries, please contact:
Siya Qoza
Cell number: 082 898 1657

Duwayne Esau
Spokesperson for the Minister
Cell number: 077 606 9702

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