One of the duties of any government is to keep its citizens safe.
We have armed forces to protect us from enemy attacks and a police force to keep us safe from violent crime. There are also rules to ensure that our vehicles are in a safe condition.
There are building regulations to ensure that our houses, shops and offices don’t come crashing down on our heads.
Inspectors visit meat processing works to ensure that our food is prepared in a hygienically safe way.
The government employs thousands of responsible people to ensure these safety standards are maintained. We pay their salaries from our taxes. It’s comforting to know that so many highly trained people are out there keeping us safe from crime and violence and potential disease.
Or should be.
This is why I was deeply shocked to read about the fire at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Gauteng on April 16. A hospital is a particularly sensitive place.
People go there because they need help and care. But when firemen inspected the burnt hospital they found safety doors not working and fire hydrant connections missing (presumed stolen) and no pressure in the hydrants’ water supply.
Yet the hospital had passed a safety audit two weeks before the fire. Inspectors signed the audit forms saying everything was just fine.
I wonder whether those safety officers even bothered to look at the hospital. Probably accepted a gift of a bottle of Chivas Regal and asked where to sign.
“Don’t bother, matron. We’re sure you’re doing a great job. No need to inspect. And no ice with mine, thanks.”
One thing I know for sure is that you won’t catch me flying on SAA any time soon. All those passenger planes parked in the sun are inspected for safety regularly.
They probably have certificates of airworthiness issued by the same team of government inspectors that didn’t notice the missing parts of fire hydrants in Maxeke Hospital. I’d count the wheels and engines before I went anywhere near one.
“Your honour, both engines were there when we checked them last year. We can’t imagine what happened to them.”
I’ll go by road, thanks.
Last Laugh
Two Irish workers went into a pub and ordered beers. They then took out sandwiches from their lunch pails and started eating them. The waiter came bustling over.
“Sorry, gents,” he said, “you can’t eat your own food in here.”
So Paddy and Mike looked at each other, shrugged and exchanged sandwiches.
* "Tavern of the Seas" is a column written in the Cape Argus by David Biggs. Biggs can be contacted at [email protected]
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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