MPLs were allegedly barred from conducting an oversight visit. [Picture: Placementpal]
Members of the Gauteng provincial legislature were allegedly prevented from entering the Sebokeng Hospital. They made an unannounced visit following complaints from members of the public.
Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Monday, ActionSA’s John Moodey detailed how he and colleagues, dressed in legislature attire, were prevented from conducting an oversight visit.
After physically preventing the group from going farther than the car park, the hospital’s head of security brought in police to haul them off. However, the police then left when they realised there were no grounds for arrest, he said.
Moodey said he will not leave matters as is.
“I will definitely be raising the matter in the House. That is where it is – in the House, the MEC has to then give account to the legislature. I’m a legislator, I am not just an ordinary citizen – I am a servant of the people, elected into public office to oversee the executive and to ensure that they get the services that they deserve,” he said.
He also said it was necessary to conduct an oversight visit in order to gather the facts around complaints received from the public.
“People were talking about the fact that when they get into the hospital, where you get into the first waiting area, they wait there forever. The e-filing system that we went to go and do oversight on last week should alleviate that problem. That was my issue we were going to look at.”
As a Member of the Gauteng Legislature and SA citizen I am being refused excess to the Sabokeng Hospital, to excercise an unannounced oversight visit. I had even been threatened with physical violence. This is totally unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/YHilbVD1LE
— John Moodey (@john_moodey) October 21, 2024
