TimesLIVE reports that the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said on Friday that there was no radiation exposure at Kopanong Hospital in Vereeniging.  

The authority was reacting to reports by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa), which claimed on Wednesday that the x-ray department at the hospital had been closed since 8 May year due to possible radiation leaks.  The union apparently claimed that all x-ray staff members were on two months' special leave as it was suspected they had been exposed to high radiation levels.  On Friday, the authority said it had launched a multidisciplinary investigation into alleged radiation exposure at the X-ray department and that blood samples had been taken and were being analysed to confirm whether or not staff members had been over-exposed to radiation.  The outcome of the tests would be available on Tuesday.  "There is no need to put staff on special leave for two months," the authority stated.  However, it added that the x-ray equipment was found to be non-compliant with regulatory requirements owing to a lack of scheduled maintenance and quality assurance and had been rendered inoperable “until such time that it meets the requisite standards.”

• Read the full original of Ernest Mabuza’s report on this story at TimesLIVE
• Read the DA Gauteng’s press statement on this matter at Politicsweb

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page