Task team to deal with RK Khan’s pest monkeys
HEALTH Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has established a multi-sectoral task team to deal with a monkey infestation at RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth.
The minister visited the Durban hospital on Wednesday after seeing a video of the animals roaming freely.
The task team includes officials from environmental affairs and health, and had its first meeting on Wednesday. It is expected to give the minister regular updates on progress.
The Department of Health was left embarrassed after reports that monkeys were stealing patients’ food and several pictures started circulating on social media showing monkeys hanging above patients’ beds.
In a video released by the provincial Department of Health, Motsoaledi said they were very worried about the invasion. It showed monkeys moving around and hanging on windows.
He said monkeys could carry a variety of diseases including yellow fever, hepatitis, TB and even rabies. He said he was not referring to specific incidents, but a general knowledge of medicine.
“That is why I am saying we cannot sit and wait until one of those things happens.”
He said he did not like the presence of wild animals among humans: “Even though they have never shown aggression, a wild animal is a wild animal and you cannot guess (how they will behave). We cannot take chances.
“If a monkey bites you, that bite is worse than that of a dog. It could be like the bite of a human being, which is more dangerous because human beings carry too many bacteria,” he said.
Provincial Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said they welcomed the minister’s intervention and the establishment of the team to address the challenge.
“One of the things that happened was that too much credence was given to the voice of animal lovers who advocated for the monkeys to be left alone. However, this is a hospital and we should care for the well-being of the patients, and especially those who are fragile,” he said.
The DA’s health spokesperson, Dr Imraan Keeka, welcomed Motsoaledi’s intervention.
“Regrettably, RK Khan is not the only medical facility that is affected by these primates, which are also causing problems at Durban’s Prince Mshiyeni Memorial and Wentworth hospitals.
“The DA will write to Minister Motsoaledi to request that any interventions are extended to both of these facilities.
“It is also bizarre that it should take the national minister to deal with this scourge,” he said.