THE Gauteng government at the weekend paid more than R10-million to two victims of hospital negligence.
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane's office paid R3,425-million to 12-year-old Sibusiso Khanyi, who was born with cerebral palsy on December 2 1999 at the Pholosong Hospital in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni.
The boy's lawyer, Gary Austin, yesterday confirmed that Mokonyane had paid the money.
"The payment came through on Saturday. We will get a million from the sheriff of the court (who had attached Mokonyane's office furniture last month). In total, the office has paid out 4.425-million," Austin said.
Mokonyane also kept her promise to pay amputee Shabbier Nagel R6,25-million.
Nagel had a leg amputated when he went for heart surgery at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
Nagel's lawyer Renel Pretorius said yesterday: "They paid the capital amount on Friday. We are still waiting for the interest which is R320000. Failure to pay the money will result in us executing."
Gauteng health department spokesman Simon Zwane was yesterday unavailable for comment.
The settlement agreement between Mokonyane's legal advisors and Austin, which Sowetan has seen, stipulates that Mokonyane's office has promised to pay "the capital amount (R9,25-million) plus interest (R1,4-million) and costs" to Sibusiso and his family.
Mokonyane is expected to make a payment of R3,132-million on or before March 4. The next payment of R3,093-million is expected on or before April 4.
Austin said calculating the costs would be a lengthy process.
"We have to claim for every letter and there are thousands of files to go through. We also have to claim for every telephone call we ever made in the process.
"Our cost consultants will do the calculations but it may take months before it is finalised," Austin said.
DA health spokesman Jack Bloom said the mess could have been avoided.
"The total interest on these two cases is more than R1,7-million. That could have been saved if court orders were promptly obeyed and there would not have been the embarrassment of a sheriff's visit.
"The premier needs to shake up her legal department and get competent people to handle these cases," Bloom said.
The sheriff of the court on two occasions visited Mokonyane's office to enforce court orders to pay Khanyi and Nagel as ordered by the Johannesburg and Pretoria High Courts in February and September last year.
Gauteng government finally pays up
THE Gauteng government at the weekend paid more than R10-million to two victims of hospital negligence.
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane's office paid R3,425-million to 12-year-old Sibusiso Khanyi, who was born with cerebral palsy on December 2 1999 at the Pholosong Hospital in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni.
The boy's lawyer, Gary Austin, yesterday confirmed that Mokonyane had paid the money.
"The payment came through on Saturday. We will get a million from the sheriff of the court (who had attached Mokonyane's office furniture last month). In total, the office has paid out 4.425-million," Austin said.
Mokonyane also kept her promise to pay amputee Shabbier Nagel R6,25-million.
Nagel had a leg amputated when he went for heart surgery at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
Nagel's lawyer Renel Pretorius said yesterday: "They paid the capital amount on Friday. We are still waiting for the interest which is R320000. Failure to pay the money will result in us executing."
Gauteng health department spokesman Simon Zwane was yesterday unavailable for comment.
The settlement agreement between Mokonyane's legal advisors and Austin, which Sowetan has seen, stipulates that Mokonyane's office has promised to pay "the capital amount (R9,25-million) plus interest (R1,4-million) and costs" to Sibusiso and his family.
Mokonyane is expected to make a payment of R3,132-million on or before March 4. The next payment of R3,093-million is expected on or before April 4.
Austin said calculating the costs would be a lengthy process.
"We have to claim for every letter and there are thousands of files to go through. We also have to claim for every telephone call we ever made in the process.
"Our cost consultants will do the calculations but it may take months before it is finalised," Austin said.
DA health spokesman Jack Bloom said the mess could have been avoided.
"The total interest on these two cases is more than R1,7-million. That could have been saved if court orders were promptly obeyed and there would not have been the embarrassment of a sheriff's visit.
"The premier needs to shake up her legal department and get competent people to handle these cases," Bloom said.
The sheriff of the court on two occasions visited Mokonyane's office to enforce court orders to pay Khanyi and Nagel as ordered by the Johannesburg and Pretoria High Courts in February and September last year.
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