The Gauteng Department of Health has activated contingency plans following the temporary closure of the Masakhane Cook Freeze Factory, amid alarming reports that patients at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital (CMJH) are going without proper meals, according to reports by The Star.
The closure stems from a failed food safety inspection revealing E. coli contamination at the factory, which has been critical in supplying meals to major healthcare facilities across the province, The Star reported.
The situation came to a head when the Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, conducted an oversight visit on November 19, claiming that patients were not receiving the plated lunches they depended on from the Masakhane Factory. According to Bloom, while breakfast and supper are still provided by the hospital kitchen, lunch options have dwindled dramatically. Instead of their usual hearty meal of meat, vegetables, and starch, patients have been receiving only a slice of bread with margarine and cheese.
Further compounding concerns, Bloom noted that some relatives have resorted to bringing food from home due to the insufficient lunch provisions. “It is shameful that a provincial food facility is closed because of contaminated food,” he stated, attributing the issue to poor management and inadequate investment in robust machinery.
In stark contrast, the Gauteng Department of Health has strongly refuted claims that patients are starving. “Such reports are not only misleading the public but also cause unnecessary panic to the families of patients receiving care,” the department asserted, emphasising that all hospitals are still providing three meals a day.
Officials confirmed that the factory’s closure followed a City of Tshwane inspection, which detected E. coli bacteria in the water supply. In a preventive measure, MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko stated that meal production was halted immediately, though reassuring the public that no illnesses had been reported related to this contamination.
“I want to reassure the people of Gauteng that our hospitals have activated contingency plans to ensure that patients continue to receive their daily meals, including alternative nutritional options prepared by hospital food service teams,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said. However, the department has not provided a timeline for the reopening of the factory, which is currently undergoing deep cleaning and the installation of a new water purification plant. Staff are also receiving food safety training to prevent future incidents.
This latest food crisis is not the first time the Gauteng Department of Health has faced accusations regarding patient care. Recently, viral social media posts alleged filthy kitchen conditions and expired food at Sebokeng Regional Hospital. The department vehemently denied these claims, stating that routine condemnation procedures were misrepresented online. They further stressed that although the main kitchen is currently 80% renovated, it operates under strict safety compliance from a temporary facility.
After a staff member reportedly suffered an electrical shock from exposed wiring in the temporary kitchen, the department initiated debriefing sessions and launched an extensive investigation.
“As a precaution, staff were removed from the makeshift kitchen, and Masakhane had been contracted to supply lunch and supper until its recent closure,” they emphasised.
