LOOK: More furniture seized over Gauteng Health Dept's R3.7bn debt

Published Nov 14, 2017

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Johannesburg - There appears to be no end to the Gauteng Health Department's financial woes as more furniture was seized at the department's head office on Tuesday, allegedly over its massive billion rand debt.

The department - described as the worst managed in the country - reportedly owes 1576 suppliers over R3.7 billion, as revealed by DA shadow Gauteng Health MEC Jack Bloom. 

Bloom, who posted an image showing furniture being removed, revealed that computers, TVs, chairs and even a fridge had been seized by the Sheriff of the Court over unpaid debts. 

"It's unclear which company is behind the latest raid but it's obvious that as companies are not being paid, they've had to resort to roping in the Sheriff, which is a last resort," he said. 

Sheriff of the court taking computers, chairs, fans, TVs, even a fridge from Gauteng Health Dept for unpaid debts. It's really shameful! pic.twitter.com/XiSUWqhFLD

— Jack Bloom (@JackBloomDA) November 14, 2017

"This is also frustrating for staff members having equipment removed [constantly]... because they have important information stored on computers."

Bloom said it was tragic that the department's debts amounted to 10% of its budget, expressing hope that the upcoming adjustment budget would bring good news. 

The shadow MEC lamented the frequent visits made by the Sheriff to the department's offices, saying it can't become a regular occurrence. 

READ MORE: Unpaid bills leaves Gauteng Health HQ without phones: DA

This is not the first time the department's financial woes have been in the spotlight, with reports emerging in September that the department's telephone lines had been cut off and furniture removed over unpaid debts. 

Bloom revealed that furniture from the head office had been removed by the Sheriff because a R6.2 million medical negligence award that had not been paid by the department. 

"Telephones at the Gauteng Health Head Office have been cut because Telkom has not been paid for many months," Bloom revealed at the time. 

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