File
The Eastern Cape Health Department says power has been restored to Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha after cable thieves left parts of the hospital without power for several days.
Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, said in a statement the theft occurred last week and noted that no deaths were recorded due to the power outage.
“To ensure critical services were not negatively, the Eastern Cape Department of Health ensured generators were available, ensuring service continuity.
“The cable theft is the latest incident of vandalism at public health facilities,” Kupelo said.
He said the MEC for Health Nomakhosazana Meth has condemned the vandalism.
“We are calling on communities to protect these facilities because they are there to service them. It cannot be correct that our facilities and healthcare workers are targeted by thugs,” she said.
MEC Meth said they were also “grateful that no one lost their life as a result of this thuggery, which we condemn in the strongest words possible”.
“We thank the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for working around the clock to ensure that the electricity was restored,” she added.
Meth said during the four days without electricity, the department used generators at casualty, theatre, and other wards.
