Protest halts clinic’s official opening

The official opening of the Riverpark Clinic was cancelled on 28 February after protest action by a group calling itself ‘concerned residents and employees of the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP)’.

The group blocked and trashed Vincent Tshabalala Road and streets leading to the clinic with burning tyres, tree branches and rubbish.
City official Nkosinathi Nkabinde said the opening was cancelled for the safety of the officials and to enable the protesters to raise their concerns with the appropriate structures in council.

The protesters said they were unhappy with local DA councillor Irene Rugheimer and Mayor Herman Mashaba for not consulting them about the event, for employing non-residents in some of the jobs at the clinic, and for stopping the Extended Public Works Programme, said to employ thousands citywide.

Before dispersing, the protesters hurled insults at Rugheimer and Mashaba and warned against any attempt to open the clinic, saying it would incite them to make the area ungovernable. One of their leaders Tsietsi Khungoana said they felt disrespected and that protocol was breached by not informing the users of the facility.

He added that Mashaba should first give reasons for the closure of the EPWP, ‘which will deepen poverty and suffering of thousands of residents and their dependents’.

Multi-party councillors had different views on the protest. Rugheimer and DA proportional representative (PR) councillor Shadrack Mkhonto, blamed it on members of the ANC who, according to them, misinformed residents about the EPWP, despite their presence in council when the EPWP changes were explained.

“The programme is being restructured to cut out middlemen and make it operate professionally, with workers paid directly by Council, in the process, providing better and secure contracts and possibly bigger salaries,” he said.

“It’s a pity that some colleagues misinformed the public on a matter so important to the lives of the very people they claim to represent,” said Mkhonto.

“The DA is not claiming ownership of this project but to register its completion and make the public aware of its existence.”

Another DA PR councillor Judith Madiakgotla said the protest was instigated via anonymous SMS messages discouraging public participation.

Oupa Sako, PR councillor for the Economic Freedom Front, urged leaders not to mislead the public, claiming that some in the ANC did so at meetings in order for the event to fail. “It’s unacceptable as it affects the public’s constitutional right to celebrate their access to health at an existing facility. We will ensure that the clinic is officially opened at some point,” Sako said.

He further castigated the Extended Public Works Programme detractors alleging that they were the middlemen who are worried about losing out. “The EFF supports the changes in the programme and will ensure that nobody loses their job. Let’s not play politics with people’s lives.”

He pleaded for better commuProtest halts clinic’s official openingnication and the dissemination of correct information to the public.

ANC councillor Adolph Marema said protests wouldn’t occur if leaders engaged with the public and led from the front when there are challenges. “Where protests are unjustified, Council should invoke appropriate bylaws on crowd control to ensure events are not disrupted,” he said.

Alex News is awaiting comment from Mayor Herman Mashaba’s office and will update this story once it becomes available.

Details: Shadrack Mkhonto 079 444 1464; Oupa Sako 076 711 5467; Judith Madiakgotla 064 755 1499; Tsietsi Khungoana 063 129 7407.

Read: City Power welcomes Mashaba’s investigation

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