Majola who has already kicked off his inspection by visiting Pelonomi Hospital and will head over to the National District Hospital on Monday afternoon, concluding his tour of the Bloemfontein-based health facilities. Majola will spend his final two days in Botshabelo Township, Thaba’ Nchu and the city of Welkom.

According to the programme, Majola is expected to inspect the Botshabelo District Hospital and Dr JS Moroka District Hospital in Thaba Nchu on Tuesday. 

Word of the oversight visit comes amidst unconfirmed reports that Thaba Nchu and Tempe Military Base, have been identified as two of the possible locations where the now 151 South Africans set to be repatriated from Wuhan in Hubei province, will be quarantined for three weeks. 

The OFM News team dug a little deeper, being informed that the Black Mountain Hotel near Thaba Nchu, which has a landing strip 6,7km away, is one of the specific venues being scouted as a possibility. Black Mountain General Manager, Peter Leonard, declined to officially comment on the matter.

The Health Department’s Acting Director-General, Dr Anban Pillay, has bashed claims that the Pelonomi Hospital in the Free State and the Klerksdorp Hospital in the North West are not capacitated to deal with any Coronavirus eventualities. Alongside Minister Zweli Mkhize during a media briefing on Sunday, Pillay outlined that he has been to both provinces for assessments and can assure the public that the hospitals are fully ready, capacitated with adequate equipment and necessary resources. Mkhize, on the other hand, revealed the repatriation process will occur in three phases, namely: the evacuation, the quarantine and the reunification phases.

Majola will round off his oversight visits by going to the Bongani Hospital in Welkom.

OFM News