Nie Cele
Three Gauteng hospitals will soon have new names. That’s according to Premier, David Makhura. Delivering his state of the province address at the legislature, Makhura said, he was pleased that after community participation process these hospitals will be renamed to honour some of the outstanding martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom. Zola-Jabulani will be named after the late Bheki Mlangeni, Natalspruit, will be named after the late Thele Mogoerane and Far East Rand after the late Ruth First”. The Premier also revealed that two more new hospitals will be built in Soshanguve and Lilian Ngoyi as well as revitalization of Jubilee, Kalafong, Sebokeng, Yusuf Dadoo, Tambo Memorial and Kyalami Hospital. Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, blasted the announcement. “Who was consulted on the renaming of these hospitals. Previously procedures to ensure wide public involvement in such a matter have not been followed.”
Bloom also pointed out that, these were all ANC struggle heroes and it was not clear who was consulted on the renaming.
“Previously, there was a public call for suggested names, and the Gauteng Legislature’s Health Committee was also involved. We have not been given a rationale as to why these three hospitals are being named after particular people”.
Bloom also argued that, this was not a good precedent by a new premier who has pledged to be a servant of the people
“The higher priority is actually to improve service at these hospitals so that they do not disgrace the names of the people they are going to be named after”.
Did you Know?
Bheki Mlangeni was an ANC human rights lawyer who was killed by a walkman bomb in the 1990’s.
Thele Mogoerane was one of the ANC cadres who was hanged with two unrelated common criminals — for attacks on apartheid-era South African police stations.
Ruth First was a South African anti-apartheid activist and scholar born in Johannesburg. She was killed by a parcel bomb addressed specifically to her in Mozambique 1982.
