Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has called for the immediate suspension of the services of Mediosa Mobile Clinic in the North West.
He says his department does not need the service, and referred to it as an ATM machine.
The Health Department paid the Gupta-linked company R30 million prior to any work being done.
Motsoaledi inspected one of the mobile clinics placed within a health centre in Ratlou municipality on Friday.
Determined to find the truth behind the controversial Mediosa contract, he says he is deeply disappointed by his discovery, and that the health system already overburdened, can ill afford to pay exorbitant amounts of money for services that the Department can do without.
“This is the service that we don’t need at all, in fact I don’t think it will be wrong to characterise it as an ATM card through which the Gupta family are withdrawing money from.”
The Minister wants Mediosa’s contract immediately terminated.
“It’s a service that we don’t need… whoever entered into this contract must find a way to terminate it, because it’s not a service that South Africa needs at all. Whether you are in a rural area or urban areas we don’t need this service.”
Motsoaledi has also called for the immediate suspension of the HOD of the Department of Health Dr Thabo Lekalakala.
It emerged in January that Mediosa paid for Lekalakala’s trip to India to inspect health services in that country.
There has since been growing calls and pressure on the North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo to suspend Lekalakala.
“What I can say is that I am strongly appealing to the Premier that, that man should never ever set foot in the Department of Health again! He is not fit to be a public servant. I am sorry to say so, because it has got legal implications in terms of labour law… they might say the Minister fired an HOD through the media… but I am expressing a reality.”
Meanwhile workers union Nehawu protested during the Minister’s visit over their performance management system which has not been paid for four years.
Click video below:
