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City Press has once again found a company that was “irregularly” awarded a hospital laundry tender in Limpopo hanging garments in the open air – contravening infection control measures.
The department has found itself stuck with Mphefhedzi Business Enterprises even after an investigation confirmed that it had won contracts irregularly, but it was now hoping to use the company’s poor performance to terminate the contracts.
City Press first reported on Mphefhedzi in August last year after coming across hospital laundry including linen and gowns hung in the open air on makeshift washing lines, while other items had blown off the line and were lying among piles of dirt and garbage.
The same thing was discovered this week at the same premises at an industrial area in Seshego outside Polokwane. The premises is shared by motor mechanics and a vehicle spray-painting workshop.
When City Press visited the premises yesterday, some workers were preparing to spray-paint a minibus taxi next to the washing lines.
The items of laundry found hanging on the lines week were marked at belonging to Groblersdal Hospital, which is one of 22 hospitals serviced by Mphefhedzi.
The company’s handling of hospital items is not in compliance with infection control measures which states clearly that hospital laundry should “under no circumstances be carried in open delivery vehicles, washed by hand or hung in the open to dry”.
When awarded the contract in the middle of last year, Mphefhedzi was “not recommended” because inspectors did not find the required equipment on site.
Following the City Press exposé, an investigation was carried out by Treasury and it has since been revealed that the contracts were awarded “irregularly”.
While still exploring a legal base to terminate the contract with Mphefhedzi after the findings, the department found itself inundated with complaints from some hospitals serviced by the company. City Press understands that had been reports of late collection of laundry and late delivery, which led to the reuse of items and the mishandling of garments in some cases.
The department was also asked about what was discovered in Seshego, where the company continued to hang laundry outside. Spokesperson Derick Kganyago said the department was aware of this and that it has also been investigated.
Kganyago said: “Following a number of poor performance complaints, the department has communicated its intention to terminate the contract with the service provider, [which] was given an opportunity to respond to the intention letter.
“The department is currently processing the response and is anticipating that the matter will be finalised,” he said.
Meanwhile, City Press has previously been told by disgruntled business people that they were better equipped than Mphefhedzi, yet were not awarded any contracts. They further said Mphefhedzi had tried to seek their services after winning the tender.
The competing companies believe that Mphefhedzi tried to outsource the majority of its workload because it did not have the capacity to do the job.
Bidvest Laundry Group said it was subcontracted by Mphefhedzi to do some of its hospital laundry in September and November.
The company said it was to cut ties with Mphefhedzi after it failed to pay them about R150 000 for the work it carried out.
“We called Mphefhedzi and their explanation was that they were also owed money by the department,” said Bidvest Laundry business development manager Praneel MataBadal.
Kganyago denied this, and said the department was “not aware of any valid invoices that are still outstanding”.
He added that the contract did not prohibit subcontracting as long as the department was informed of the arrangement. Kganyago said the department was previously informed of two subcontracted companies, but Bidvest was not on the list provided by Mphefhedzi.
Meanwhile, attempts to get hold of Mphefhedzi owner Oriel Masiavhula were unsuccessful, though those who work with him at the laundry office promised to pass on the message.
