The department of health in Gauteng has flagged allegations by City Power that two hospitals in the city are in arrears for unpaid electricity bills.
On Thursday, City Power officials visited Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital to serve them with pre-termination notices.
Collectively, the health facilities are said to be owing City Power more than R30-million.
City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, said Helen Joseph Hospital debt is over R23-million while Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital owes the entity over R7-million.
“City Power is concerned with the levels of non-payment from government institutions,” said Mangena.
“Government properties across the city owe over half a billion rands. We will be clamping down on these defaulters, as we intensify our revenue-collection drive.”
The visits to the hospitals were an extension of City Power’s cut-off operation that hit various areas under the Hursthill service delivery centre this week.
The power utility made it clear to the hospitals’ executives that failure to pay in the next two weeks will result in immediate electricity cut-offs.
Helen Joseph does not owe City Power
Tshepo Shawa, spokesperson for the MEC for health, said: “Helen Joseph Hospital does not owe City Power the stated amount of R23.4-million.”
Shawa said there is, however, only one invoice that is outstanding for the month of June 2023, which City Power has not uploaded on to its e-invoicing portal.
“In addition, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital’s payment of R2.7-million
from July to August 2023 is being processed.
“The management for the two facilities met with City Power officials to present
their case and only to find out that what is alleged to be due does not warrant
power disconnection.”
Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Hospital officials have since said they have already started with a process of clearing their debts.
Shawa added that as it stands, both facilities’ electricity billing is in a healthy state and there will not be any termination of electricity supply.
Mangena confirmed on Thursday that more than R1.3-billion is owed to the power utility by businesses, government institutions, and households across the city.
