Motsoaledi visits NW hospital after flooding, says climate change a factor
Last week, the Zeerust and Moses Kotane hospitals were flooded but were cleaned within hours.
Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi breaks down the NHI Bill. Picture: Thomas Holder/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Certain areas in the North West have received more rain in recent days than they have seen in a decade.
This resulted in three hospitals being flooded in the space of a week.
Last week, the Zeerust and Moses Kotane hospitals were flooded but were cleaned within hours.
On Sunday evening, 33 patients were evacuated from General De la Rey Hospital in Lichtenburg.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi visited the hospital on Tuesday.
The lack of maintenance by local municipalities in the North West resulted in three hospitals being flooded in the province.
READ: Mop-up operations continuing in parts of NW after heavy rain, flooding
This was due to stormwater drains being clogged.
Motsoaledi carried out an oversight visit to the hospital.
The health minister said that the issue of climate change was also a contributing factor to recent floods in the province.
"From what the expert told me, the areas are seeing more rain than they have seen in a decade. The people were not used to that."
Motsoaledi said he’s instructed the local and provincial authorities to clear their sewerage and stormwater drains.
"The mayor was here, the mayor of the local municipality and the district. We think the mayors must do their work first," he said.
The General De la Rey hospital is likely to be reopened on Friday.