The Department of Health has once again failed to meet its own deadline to open the R60 million Sebokeng clinic.
This was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply to questions asked by the DA’s Member of the Provincial Legislature and Shadow MEC on Health, Jack Bloom.
In the reply, MEC Mokgethi indicated that the original date for completion of the clinic was July 2019, however, the opening was postponed to 31 May 2022.
To date, the clinic remains incomplete, closed and not offering health services to the people of Sebokeng. See pictures here, here and here.
According to MEC Mokgethi, the clinic has reached practical completion but there is no electrical connection to the building.
The delay in opening this clinic is hindering the delivery of health services as the current clinic that is being used is too small and cannot adequately accommodate patients. See the picture here.
Patients are forced to queue in the sun for long hours, there are no chairs to sit on as they wait to be seen by a doctor.
Residents have a right to receive quality health services and it is the government’s responsibility to deliver on this.
The DA’s Jack Bloom will put pressure on MEC Mokgethi to ensure that the clinic is completed and operational as soon as possible.