TimesLIVE reports that North West health MEC Madoda Sambatha has confirmed the "precautionary transfer" of five managers at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital in the wake of the cardboard boxes debacle.

Images emerged last week on social media showing newborn babies in the hospital's neonatal section sleeping in cardboard boxes instead of incubators or crib beds. Sambatha held a briefing at the hospital on Wednesday to explain the sequence of events and what action had since been taken. This followed meetings with management, which presented the outcome of a preliminary internal investigation, as well as employees and unions. The investigation revealed that the incident happened on Saturday, and management was not alerted. Sambatha blamed management for failing to control the influx of expecting mothers to the facility beyond its capacity, saying it was a function under their control. He also blamed them for failing to report the shortage of incubators and cribs to the acting CEO on the day as well as failure to monitor the situation as it was unfolding. On the preliminary report, Sambatha said: "Because this was a preliminary investigation, it means we must now do a full investigation into the incident, but it is limited to the responsibilities of the five. These five will be informed by management on what we've decided to do."

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khanyisile Ngcobo at TimesLIVE

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