Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal health department spent up to R2.4 million upgrading a smoking room, the DA claimed on Tuesday.
Spokesman Mark Steele said the Democratic Alliance submitted a question to health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo on why the department spent up to R2.4m upgrading a smoking room at its Natalia head office building in Pietermaritzburg.
Steele said the information was contained in an infrastructure projects report submitted to health portfolio committee members on April 18.
He said it was a concern that the department had a smoking room and that it reportedly spent that much upgrading it.
“We also want to know how the department can possibly justify this expenditure while patients attend over-crowded and understaffed clinics right here in Pietermaritzburg,” Steele said.
Department spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said he would have to ask the department’s construction company about the matter. - Sapa