Hospital theft raises questions for southern Free State patients

BLOEMFONTEIN, Free State: Theft at Bloemfontein hospitals has affected services, raising questions about the implications for southern Free State residents who travel to the city for treatment.

In a report published on October 16, Mail & Guardian journalist Lunga Mzangwe documented plumbing and copper-pipe theft at Universitas Academic Hospital, Pelonomi Hospital and National District Hospital.

Universitas chief executive Dr Balekile Mzangwa told the publication that incidents had increased recently and that theft of oxygen-supply pipes had affected operating theatres. The report also described restricted toilet access and problems with hot water.

Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said that the estimated replacement expenditure at Universitas included more than R1 million for copper pipes and R1.56 million for toilet fittings and flush mechanisms. He said the department was unaware of an organised syndicate. Security responses described in the report included stronger access controls and measures to make fittings harder to steal.

Repeated incidents, but no precise dates

Mzangwa described years of vandalism, recently increasing, affecting oxygen pipes and theatres. National District nurses described months of plumbing problems.

According to an employee at Universitas thieves returned despite access points being welded closed. The means by which the criminals enter is still not clear.

For patients, the thefts have affected both basic dignity and the infrastructure supporting treatment. It was also reported that public toilets at Universitas had been locked to prevent further theft, although ward toilets were accessible, while patients relied on water heated in urns for washing during hot-water shortages. At National District Hospital, nurses described having to tell patients that toilets were unusable.

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A patient interviewed at Pelonomi, who had also spent time at National District, described distressing sanitation conditions and expressed concern about exposure to infection around patients with open wounds. More seriously, Mzangwa confirmed that stolen oxygen-supply pipes had affected operating theatres. The report did not establish how many procedures were delayed or identify specific patient injuries resulting from the thefts.

Officials dismissed at Pelonomi

According to health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi two Pelonomi technical-services officials stole R500,000 in copper and were dismissed. Names, incident dates and criminal-charge details were not provided.

Staff suspected insiders or contractors; but the latter remain allegations. The department denied knowledge of a syndicate, despite the report’s network description.

Mzangwa cited at least 79 reported vandalism cases without progress reports, plus an unnamed thief caught and subsequently granted bail; no date or case number was supplied.

The connection to Karoo communities

The concern extends beyond Bloemfontein because rural patients depend on referrals when the care they need is unavailable locally. The Free State health department’s published directory for Diamant District Hospital in Jagersfontein includes referrals from clinics in Philippolis, Trompsburg, Springfontein, Edenburg, Fauresmith, Luckhoff and Koffiefontein, as well as Petrusburg, Jacobsdal and Oppermansgronde. It identifies Pelonomi as the hospital to which Diamant refers patients.

Rural impact still unconfirmed

For a patient travelling from a small town, a postponed procedure could mean another journey with further transport arrangements and more time away from work or family. These are potential consequences, however, and not verified outcomes of the thefts.

That leaves important questions unanswered: which theatre services are still affected, whether rural referrals are being delayed and when repairs and security improvements will be completed. Clear information on these points would help patients and referring facilities plan journeys and treatment.