Chairperson of the national health oversight committee Dr Sbongiseni Dhlomo and Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba said in a statement this week that they were barred entry to Life St Mary's Hospital in Mthatha where they visited to investigate the allegations.

Dhlomo said: "It is quite surprising as we had informed identified health facilities, including Life St Mary's Hospital in Mthatha, of the committees' intended oversight visit in the Eastern Cape.

His spokesperson Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha said: "In response to the allegations made by the people of the province about bad treatment of healthcare workers and patients by Mthatha Private Hospital, Life St Mary's and Life Beacon Bay private hospitals, Eastern Cape province, Mr Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has tasked the Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba to submit a report about these allegations."

"The decision by Life St Mary's hospital in Mthatha to deny access to the hospital premises to the members of the Health Portfolio Committee from national Parliament, Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba who were on the oversight visit to the hospital to investigate the same allegations, will also be included in the report.

Additionally, these discussions have cleared up misunderstandings around official government visits at Life St Mary's Hospital and outlined our stringent PPE protocols for staff, doctors and patients as well as our Healthcare Workers Exposure Policy which are aligned to NICD guidelines.