Government must go all out to support civic duty

It is not difficult to understand that the government cannot provide everything for everybody… but when a community puts its own money into building a badly needed clinic, the government should at least try to meet them halfway by providing health workers to staff it.

At the Lurwayizo clinic in the Eastern Cape, though, the community was promised by the then MEC for Health, Helen Sauls-August, that nurses would be provided.

The people were happy because they felt it was the least the government could do, given that more than 2 000 residents, as well as businesspeople in the area, had contributed – sometimes the little they could afford – to the clinic building fund.

The provincial administration also organised a vote-winning bunfight celebration to open the clinic.

And since then? Nothing. People wait at the clinic every day… in vain. Sauls-August says haughtily that she cannot comment because she is no longer the MEC. That sets a new standard for callous political ducking and diving.

The Eastern Cape government must acknowledge the civic-mindedness of this community and should at least try to provide some services. After all, half the job has already been done.

We wonder whether that situation will suddenly change, now that elections are around the corner.