The Gauteng Health Department has moved swiftly to criticize the sharing of videos and social media posts that allege monkeys swimming in water tanks belong to the Jubilee District Hospital in Hammanskraal labeling it “ irresponsible” and likely to “cause panic”.
A spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, Motalatale Modiba said in a statement: “The Gauteng Department of Health would like to assure the public that the video where monkeys are seen swimming inside black water tankers is not from Jubilee District Hospital nor any of our public health facilities. Jubilee District Hospital and other facilities in Gauteng do not use black water tankers.”
“The same video was shared earlier this year and those who shared it insinuated that it was depicting the situation at Helen Joseph Hospital at the time when the facility was experiencing water supply shortages,” said Modiba.
He also stated that the Gauteng Department of Health facilities uses green JoJo tanks and that the water supplied by local authorities and water utilities to the hospitals and clinics “is clean” and fit for human consumption and other services.
Modiba ended by urging the public to condemn material that seeks to mislead and misinform.
You can read the full statement right here.
MEDIA STATEMENT || GAUTENG HEALTH DISMISSES SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO OF MONKEYS SWIMMING IN WATER TANKERS LINKED TO ITS FACILITIES pic.twitter.com/HfxOxPzEl9
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) June 6, 2023
Anyone who creates or spreads fake news can be charged with crimen injuria and is liable for prosecution.
