With reports that the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital power supply will be disconnected today unless they pay their R40m electricity bill, the Department of Health in Gauteng has come out to set the record straight on the electricity billing issue at some of their hospitals.

PART OF THE DEBT SETTLED

The department spokesperson Motalatale Mosiba said Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital has paid six invoices amounting to over R32m to the City of Joburg from April to September this year towards the settlement of the R40m debt. "An additional invoice of R4.9m has been finalised for payment this week, and the last invoice of R5.2m is currently being processed for a purchase order to be created before the money is released," Modiba said. He added that the money paid excluded interest raised as the department is of the view that the interest has been raised even on invoices that have long been settled, leading to incorrect amounts being claimed. Modiba said the department, just like any consumer of municipal services, has the obligation to ensure that when there are discrepancies in the billing, owing to one reason to another, these get verified before any payment can be processed.

D-DAY FOR THE HOSPITALS

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed that Charlotte Maxeke was among the hospitals due for disconnection today. "This puts us in a really difficult and unfortunate position, where we find ourselves being forced to cut off electricity to some of these facilities. We will continue to engage the provincial leadership with a view to resolve this matter amicably," he said. Mangena said among the health facilities owing the power utility millions was the Children's Memorial Institute and also Charlotte Maxeke which he confirmed owed R41 million. Mangena added that they were due to disconnect South Rand Hospital and the Nkosi's Haven (the NGO that was home to the late Nkosi Johnson) last week. The hospital and the NGO each owes about R2.9m. "Due to the complexities of their essential operations, including operations that were done during the visit and the fact that their generator was not working, City Power decided to give South Rand Hospital, a grace period of 72 hours. Nkosi Johnson was also given until Tuesday 28 November 2023 to pay at least 50% of their R2.7 million debt or face a cut-off," Mangena added.

Modiba said the department the amounts that have already been paid to CoJ from April 2023 to November 2023 continue to incur interests on the City of Johannesburg records, something which the health department disputes. "It is important that this issue is resolved to ensure continued collaboration in an effort to maintain the delivery of services to the people of Gauteng," 

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT 

Helen Joseph Hospital: The department confirmed that they received invoices totalling a principal debt of R13m and that the debt has been paid in full to the City of Joburg on 07 August and 23 November 2023. 

Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital: The R4m debt was paid in three invoices dated 19 and 26 October 2023, which have been received by the City of Joburg. Modiba says the payments have not been updated on City Power's record, causing a misleading representation of the situation.

South Rand Hospital: The department said it has received an invoice of R2,086,080.30 which according to them, was way above the normal charges that would be received. "This delayed the processing thereof pending clarity. This amount is now due to be processed and paid with the current pay run. There is an amount of R625 807.84, which is being processed for the creation of a purchase order to effect payment," Modiba said.

Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital: The debt of R2.6m owed to City Power is current and an invoice was received in November 2023 which is currently being processed for the creation of a purchase order to effect payment.