Premier of the North West Province, Premier Tebogo Job Mokgoro announced his positive COVID-19 on Tuesday, 07 July 2020.Following these news, Premier Mokgoro was reported to be in good spirits and is only suffering from one COVID-19 symptom, a persistent cough, and is home, capable to carry out his duties. In an effort to pay close attention to the health of the Premier, The Office of the Premier indicated that the Mokgoro has been moved from self-isolation at home to a quarantine facility.

What was omitted from this announcement is that Premier Mokgoro was admitted to a Quarantine Facility outside the North West Province. A notion that was pointed out by the Democratic Alliance in the North West Province in Statement they sent to the The VIP Team. The statement alleges the Premier’s admission was to a facility in Gauteng Province. According to the statement by the DA, the reason for this was the “overburdened” North West health facilities.

“This decision highlights the fact that the North West Province is by no means ready to deal with the anticipated surge of Covid-19 patients.” Said DA North West Spokesperson on Health, Gavin Edwards. Edwards also pointed out to this effect that the 435 standard beds, 55 intensive care beds and 33 high care beds might not be sufficiently deal with the expected demand.

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The DA found it ironic that the Premier would be hospitalized a Province that is itself overburdened with high numbers of COVID-19 cases. Edwards went on to put across what could be seen as factors that drives home their concern that the province not be well equipped to deal with the looming peak, specifically in the North West Province. “It is therefore not surprising that the Premier would choose to rather be hospitalised in another province.” Edwards said.

On Monday, 12 July 2020, The VIP Team gave The Office of the Premier a right to reply to the DAs claims, a call that the was heeded by Spokesperson, in the Office of the Premier, Vuyisile Ngesi. He affirmed that there’s nothing wrong with the facilities in the North West and the Premier going into quarantine in Gauteng has no bearing on the standard of medical facilities in the province.

“Furthermore The Premier is back home, shows no symptoms and will finish off his quarantine at home. He will be part of tomorrow’s virtual legislature sitting in memory of the late MEC Gordon Kegakilwe at 10am; he is one of the speakers” Said Ngesi.

-The VIP Team

-DA NW Media

-NWPG