The MEC’s actions were exposed during a meeting of the national health portfolio committee two weeks ago.

It is intolerable that despite this latest disclosure, along with the SAHRC’s earlier finding that Dhlomo is guilty of violating cancer patients’ right to treatment, he is yet to be sanctioned or held accountable to the people of KwaZulu-Natal. This is an indictment against premier Willies Mchunu and his ANC executive.

It is clear that Dhlomo is in denial. With nearly 600 patients having died during a two-year period at just one KwaZulu-Natal hospital, it is difficult to imagine how many more have perished or are languishing in palliative-care facilities in the province, knowing that the treatment they are receiving is end-of-life care. It is also increasingly apparent that the MEC believes he is above the law. KwaZulu-Natal health facilities are not his private property and it is time he knew this.

It is the DA’s view that the MEC has acted illegally and contravened portions of sections 13 and 16 of the SAHRC Act, which explicitly permit the SAHRC to perform its oversight duties and inspect any facility. In this regard, we have also written to SAHRC chairman Bongani Majola, urging him to consider litigation and prosecution against the MEC and his department for obstructing the commission’s work, making light of the commission’s report and for the ongoing delays in treatment that are resulting in more deaths.

Dr Imran KeekaDA KwaZulu-Natal health spokesman

Source: Business Live