Advocate and Commissioner overseeing the department focused on the rights of the disabled and the elderly, Bokankatla Malatji, is expected to visit schools, psychiatric facilities, and old age homes in the province. Malatji is also expected to engage civil rights organisations and government during this visit which is meant to determine if the province is ensuring the rights of these members of society are not being abused or overlooked. The SAHRC in the Free State has in the last year promised to prioritise the rights of the elderly in particular, because they are amongst the most fragile members in our society, along with children and the disabled. It is yet to be determined which areas Malatji will visit, but there is some expectation that he will make a turn by the ailing Free State Psychiatric Complex in Bloemfontein.

The facility has long been shrouded in controversy. It has been reported, the hospital’s dilapidated infrastructure, including old installations, have resulted in the facility being prone to fires – some which have claimed lives. In August 2018, the then delegates from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) raised concerns over major refurbishments and upgrades at the institution being pushed back to the 2018/19 financial year.  Project Manager at the Free State Department of Health. Nqobile Baartman, told the delegation at the time the R6 million that was set aside for upgrades to the building had to be used to upgrade two substations at the facility due to electricity and water supply issues. The hospital went on to install about ten Distribution Boards (DB) to improve electricity supply about a month later.

In a twist of events three Free State Psychiatric Complex officials - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the heads Nursing and Supply Chain were placed on precautionary suspension in 2019 pending an investigation into numerous allegations levelled against them. Staff alleged that patient care at the Bloemfontein based facility was being compromised due to what they deem to be bad management practices. 

The spokesperson for the Department of Health in the Free State, Mondli Mvambi told OFM News the three officials are back at work, but was unable to reveal the outcome of said investigation.  

OFM News