Call for probe into outbreak shot down

WHILE the Northern Cape Department of Health is still awaiting the results of tests done on the water in Upington to determine the possible cause of the diarrhoea outbreak, which claimed the lives of five babies, Cope yesterday tabled a motion in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature that a commission of inquiry be appointed.

Cope Member of the Provincial Legislature, Pakes Dikgetsi, said the diarrhoea outbreak in Upington posed a serious challenge to the health and safety of residents as well as tourists.

“The Premier acknowledged in the House Sitting yesterday morning that the municipal health system had collapsed under this challenge to such an extent that skills had be sourced from the national government to deal with the rela- tively simple task of preventing and treating diarrhoea. We need to establish the facts so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future. One death from something as preventable as diarrhoea is one death too many.”

He said to the party’s dismay, however, both the Premier and the MEC for Roads and Public Works “jumped to their feet in their indecent eagerness to avoid accountability”.

“Their outraged objections to the constitutional request of a commission of inquiry show us that the ANC has an utter disinclination to account to communities for service delivery failures that occur on their watch. The ANC-led administration has the constitutional responsibility to provide health services on a provincial level.

“To simply push their duties off onto the national team is an indication of the collapse of the Northern Cape department of health to render services as required by the Constitution.”

Cope also tabled an additional motion for the Executive Council to carry the funeral costs of the five children, as well as that of the child in Club 2000 who died follow- ing an electricity cut that caused an oxygen tank malfunction.

“The deputy speaker simply shot down the motion by ignorantly stating that the matter had been dealt with,” Dikgetsi said.

Meanwhile, spokeswoman for the provincial Department of Health, Lulu Mxekezo, yesterday said that they were still awaiting the results of both water and stool sample tests that were sent to the laboratory to determine the cause of the outbreak. “There have been no further deaths reported.”

The department has launched a massive education campaign on the radio, advising communities to wash hands regularly with clean water before preparing food after using the bathroom.