CITY POWER said Gauteng Health Department's biggest health facilities are swimming in debt amounting to millions.
Among those are Charlotte Maxeke, owing R41 million, Helen Joseph owing R13 million, Rehima Moosa Hospital owing R4 million, and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital owing R2,6 million.
It's believed that these debts accumulated in 2023, placing the listed hospital at risk of being disconnected.
However, Gauteng Health has rubbished these reports, setting the record straight regarding the outstanding electricity bill owed across several facilities and the threats of disconnection.
"The department would like to state upfront that we acknowledge the importance of settling financial obligations promptly to ensure the uninterrupted provision of services by municipalities which have a direct impact on the rendering of healthcare services to the public, especially given that our facilities depend on access to a sustainable supply of electricity and water for their operations.
"However, the GDoH has an obligation like any consumer of municipal services to ensure that when there are discrepancies in the billing owing to one reason to another, these get verified before any payment can be processed," Gauteng Health spokesman Motalatale Modiba said.
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According to Modiba, the debt has been settled and processed as follows:
• Charlotte Maxeke Joburg Academic Hospital – Six invoices amounting to R32,474,056.39 have been paid to CoJ from April to September 2023 towards the settlement of the R40m debt.
An additional invoice of R4,9m has been finalised for payment this week, and the last invoice of R5,2m is currently being processed for a purchase order to be created before the money is released.
• Helen Joseph Hospital – All invoices received to total a principal debt of R13m have been paid fully and received by CoJ between 7 August and 23 November 2023.
• Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (formerly known as Coronation Hospital) – The R4m debt was paid in three invoices dated 19 and 26 October 2023.
• South Rand Hospital – The GDoH has received an invoice of R2,086,080,30 from the City of Joburg, which was way above the normal charges that would be received.
This delayed the processing thereof pending clarity. There is 625 807,84, which is being processed for the creation of a purchase order to effect payment.
• Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital – the debt of R2,6m owed to CoJ is current, and an invoice was received in November 2023.
• Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) – City Power incorrectly attributed a debt of R47m in its announcement to NMCH instead of Transvaal Memorial Institute (TMI), which used to house the erstwhile Children Memorial Hospital (TMI).
Modiba noted that some of the payments were yet to be processed for the creation of a purchase order to effect payment.
In some instances, according to Modiba, it would seem that amounts received by the City of Joburg were not yet allocated to relevant invoices and accounts on time.
He said the Gauteng Health Department wishes to state that the amounts that have already been paid to the City from April 2023 to November 2023 continue to incur interest on the City of Joburg records, something which they dispute.
"It's important that this issue is resolved to ensure continued collaboration in an effort to maintain the delivery of services to the people of Gauteng."
"The Department remains commitment to cooperate with local authorities across the province and utilities to ensure sustained delivery of services and will continue to engage affected stakeholders and exchange records in an effort to ensure that no debt goes unsettled," Modiba said.
