A ceremony to rename Ga-Rankuwa Hospital north-west of Pretoria went ahead on Monday despite continuing objections to the change.
A group of about 50 people, including local residents and staff members, protested at the hospital, SABC news reported.
They claimed they had not been properly consulted about the new name, George Mukhari.
In May this year, Gauteng health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa attended a public meeting at the hospital when hospital workers reportedly forcibly bundled her into a taxi.
Those protesting on Monday left after some time, Ramokgopa’s spokesperson, Popo Maja, told Sapa.
Mukhari was a political activist and a member of the United Democratic Front and the African National Congress. He was also treasurer of the SA Communist Party.
The Democratic Alliance has claimed that the change resulted from Ramokgopa’s friendship with the Mukhari family, which her spokesperson has denied.
On Monday, DA Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom reiterated: ”There was no obvious need to rename this hospital. The impression remains that the consultation process was flawed because of Dr Ramokgopa’s determination to force through her own choice arising from a promise she made to the family of the late Dr George Mukhari.”
According to Bloom, the total costs for the renaming process, including advertising and signage, amounted to at least R400 000.
”(This) could have been better spent on patient care.”
Maja said he did not know where the DA got that information or how it was calculated.
The only cost would be to change the stationery. The old stationery would be used until it ran out, and then the new batch ordered would carry the new name, he said. – Sapa