Patients wait in long queues in unfavourable weather conditions outside the dilapidated Boikhutsong Clinic in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, as the new multimillion-rand facility remains unfinished five years after construction started.
Adding salt to the wound are the squabbles of the Gauteng department of health and the City of Tshwane over the submission of site development plans.
Department of health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba confirmed the construction of the new clinic started on May 29 2017.
“The clinic will start operating upon conclusion of the city’s approval of site development plans, rezoning of the new site and completion of land ownership transfer,” said Modiba, adding that the approval will lead to the installation of bulk water, sewerage, storm water and electrical infrastructure.
However, Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashego said: “A site development plan application is not yet submitted by the department of health.
“It depends on how soon the applicant submits the plans, which get circulated for inputs by various departments [before approval].”
Provincial department of infrastructure and development spokesperson Bongiwe Gambu said the clinic’s budget was initially R119.5m but it has since risen by R10m.
Modiba said the new clinic will operate for 12 hours every day.
“The package of services will be expanded to include clinical medico-legal services, rehabilitation, mental health and oral health care,” he said.
The old clinic is in a bad state and uses five old containers as an administration block and consultation rooms.
When Sowetan visited the facility we found that there was insufficient space in the old building’s consultation rooms, restrooms were not fully functional and there was a lack of furniture.
A nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity said she has passion for her job and was doing it in the best interest of the public.
However, she is unhappy with the state of the facility.
“The burning issues is the relocation from this dilapidated place which is not providing dignity and protecting the rights of the people.”
Phina Shadung, 66, said she gets her medication at the clinic every month and rates the service as very poor.
“We sit in the sun the whole day because there is no shelter. We have spent the entire winter season queuing outside in very cold conditions with a shortage of nurses,” said Shadung, adding that the process of moving to the new clinic should be fast-tracked.
Thandi Mkhari, 58, says they wake up as early as 4am to stand in the queue outside as there is no waiting area.
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
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