KFC, Nando's to the rescue
2008-07-06 23:16
Bloemfontein - The leadership of the African National Congress's Women's League had to intervene urgently after about 40 conference delegates were admitted to hospital for diarrhoea, among other things.
The four-day conference ended in Bloemfontein on Sunday. It was held on the Vista campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).
The Free State Department of Health rendered medical assistance to conference delegates who complained of diarrhoea, dehydration and nausea.
ANC Women's League spokesperson Lindiwe Maseko said at a news conference that other cases requiring medical attention were people with diabetes who had not brought their medicine with them.
Maseko gave the assurance that these cases were brought "under control".
"The services of the caterers were terminated. After that, we ordered food from outlets like KFC and Nando's."
The caterers had served conference delegates two meals a day.
Untrained golf cart drivers
Maseko said it was important that conference delegates got fresh food and liquids.
The golf carts in which delegates were transported around on campus also caused some drama when untrained cart drivers caused a few delegates to fall off the carts. A delegate apparently also was knocked over by one of the golf carts.
A Bloemfontein businessperson was given the contract to offer this service to conference delegates.
In terms of the contract, there was one condition: it had to provide work for unemployed people.
Apparently ANC-appointed drivers were contracted to do the driving, but it was the first time they had ever driven the carts.
Guards went on strike
Following complaints, the organisers decided the conference security guards should drive the carts and sacked the unemployed drivers.
The Free State cold was too unpleasant and the guards decided to go on strike on Friday evening. Members of the businessperson's family and two reliable workers had to take over driving duties.
Consequently, fewer routes were serviced.
According to the league, the onus rested on the service provider to ensure that the drivers of the golf carts were able to do the job, even if they were appointed by the Women's League.