DA Gauteng concerned about huge rise in hospital security costs [SOUND]

# The DA in Gauteng says the security costs at provincial hospitals have doubled, even though patients are suffering from a hiring freeze at short-staffed hospitals. According to an official reply to DA questions in the Legislature, 72-million-rand a year is spent on security at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital alone. The DA’s Jack Bloom says although the Health Department claims proper procedures were followed in the appointment of security companies, it has admitted that previous contracts were irregularly awarded.