Battle over security guards being paid R23,000 per month

Low-level security guards at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, which is part of the Gauteng Health Department, reportedly earn R23,000 monthly, R17,000 more than the industry norm. 

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed this in a recent Gauteng Legislature Q&A, during which she faced questions about the soaring costs of hospital security.

A statement issued by DA shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom details the current annual security costs compared to those of a few years ago to illustrate the rate of price hikes.

Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital now spends R77 million yearly on security compared to R22 million ten years ago. 

Additionally, R72 million a year is spent at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, up from R35 million three years ago.

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko noted that Calvin and Family Security Services received a three-year contract worth R232 million for Baragwanath Hospital.

She added that a formal competitor bidding process was followed when appointing the company, providing for 275 security staff, including 248 low-paid Grade C officers.

However, Bloom pointed out that the amount awarded to the company is about R23,000 per worker monthly, whereas most Grade C Security Officers get about R6,000 a month.

Speaking with 702, Bloom said it was likely that these security guards are not being paid as high as R23,000 per month and questioned the accuracy of the hospital’s guard count.

Thus, the security company is gaining a significant profit margin from these tender deals, which Bloom believes is unacceptable.

He also pointed out that the hospital CEO, Nthabiseng Makgana, is paying for extra guards and security vehicles for herself. 

The Department said that Makgana “has elected, at her own expense, to secure additional protection based on her personal risk assessment and security needs.”

However, Bloom has labelled the gross expenditure as another hospital rip-off, which is also true at other hospitals, like Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital.

Gauteng Health in crisis

Bloom said that while security should be a high priority, the surging costs are a concern and cannot be justified. 

“There has been a rotation of security companies, but it’s the same companies just doing different hospitals,” said Bloom. 

“I think there’s something of a cartel here, and they manage the process so they all get very lucrative contracts at the expense of hospital patients.”

“If you’re spending close to a billion rand a year on hospital security, something’s very wrong because that money should rather go to treating patients.”

The DA deems this a wasteful expenditure, which is more concerning when considering the financial crisis faced by the Gauteng Health Department. 

The department is the biggest beneficiary in the province’s 2025/26 financial year budget, receiving R67 billion. However, this budget is 3.7% lower than the previous year. 

Additionally, the department failed to spend R1.1 billion of its 2023/24 budget due to issues with financial controls and poor planning. 

Bloom noted that the Gauteng health system is in crisis. He highlighted that in addition to previous underspending, patients endure delays in oncology treatment.

Additionally, he said this is expected to continue as the department struggles to maintain health facilities and secure goods and services.

Bloom said the situation is complicated because the budget did not account for 1,180 vacant critical positions or the 7,131 professional nurses required to provide quality healthcare.

“Also, no extra funds have been allocated to repair deteriorating hospitals, none of which met fire and safety standards. The department is in a severe crisis, and patients will continue to suffer.”

Considering this, Bloom noted that the DA in Gauteng will continue to press for an urgent review of soaring hospital security costs, which divert vital money needed to improve patient care.