The Minister of Employment and Labour, and newly-appointed acting Minister of DPSA, Thulas Nxesi, will also be interacting with patients to hear their concerns and complaints regarding service delivery at public health facilities in Bloemfontein.

The Free State Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, tells OFM News that the unexpected oversight visit forms part of the Pre-presidential Imbizo Build-up Programme or Pre-Imbizo Engagement ahead of the Presidential Imbizo that will be held in Mangaung this coming Saturday.

"The DPSA is here today with the Department of Health. We'll be looking at the Thuthuzela Care Centre. As you know, we are dealing with people who are survivors of domestic violence, so we treat them here at the hospital and psycho-social counselling is provided here as well. So DPSA has asked to come and see that, and I'm sure they'll be visiting other sites as well today," said Mvambi.

"Some of these visits are unannounced, so we are not at liberty to mention them ahead of time. Because the idea of an Imbizo is the facilitation of two-way communication between government and citizens, because what government is trying to do is to listen to what the citizens have to say," Mvambi added.

OFM News recently reported that the Pelonomi Hospital has been overwhelmed by high volumes of trauma cases. 

Mvambi said that the department has been working overtime to ensure that surgical issues at the Pelonomi Hospital are attended to. Mvambi further called on National Treasury to increase the budget of the health system to deal with the issue of a lack of facilities and staff shortages, amongst others.

Earlier this week it was announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, as acting Minister of Public Service and Administration.

This follows Minister of Public Service and Administration Ayanda Dlodlo’s appointment as an Executive Director on the board of the World Bank in Washington in the United States.

Minister Nxesi will continue to perform his responsibilities as Minister of Employment and Labour while acting as Minister of Public Service and Administration.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi and Mpho Mohapi