The North West Health MEC, Dr Magome Masike, says the department is working towards recouping taxpayers’ money lost to mobile clinic, Mediosa.
“First, the company sent us an invoice of R24 million out of the R30 million pre-payment. We need to satisfy ourselves that the [work for] R24 million has been done by going through the report, which goes up to the end of January 2018.
“Then we still need a report for February 2018, which covers the work done for the outstanding R6 million. Until we satisfy ourselves with the work that has been done, we are not settled with Mediosa," said the MEC.
According to Masike, the company recently sent out tow trucks to collect the mobile health units stationed at Madibogo in the Ratlou sub-district and Kagisano Molopo respectively.
With plans underway to recoup the lost tax money, Masike raised concerns about the claims made by Mediosa about the number of patients serviced.
“My concern is the number of people that Mediosa is claiming to have seen. It cannot be that in a village of 2 000 people you claim to have seen 16 000 patients. We have issues with that.
“We have to iron out all these so that we subtract them from the R30 million that they were paid in advance for doing nothing.
“That is the point of controversy and we think we are on the right track. We want to recoup taxpayers’ money and we are going to do it," said Masike.
In March, during the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) meeting, it was found that Head of Department, Dr Thabo Lekalakala, signed off on a R30 million pre-payment to Mediosa before the delivery of services.
The department then cancelled the contract with the mobile clinic, which was procured without following the correct procurement procedures.
Lekalakala has since been placed on suspension for his role in the awarding of the Mediosa contract.
“The allegations have already been written. They are going to be served to Dr Lekalakala and the disciplinary process can then begin,” said Masike. – SAnews.gov.za
