New clinic to come for Parys
Parys is to get a new Primary Health Care Clinic, to be built with funds provided by Sasol Mine’s Social and Labour Plan. ‘Good news indeed for residents who now struggle with the very inadequate clinic building in Philip Street,’ says the Democratic Alliance councillor, Shirley Vermaak. She frequently receives complaints about it.
Ngwathe Local Council unanimously approved a request to change Sasol Mine’s financial allocation for Parys from roads to a clinic last week.
The council also approved the donation of a site for the clinic which, the Free State Health Department thinks, could be at 5 Luyt Street, council heard.
Attending his last meeting before stepping down as councillor, Mr Saal de Jager welcomed news of a new clinic but queried the use of that site.
The executive mayor, Joey Mochela assured him that a site still had to be found. Council has instructed the municipal manager to identify a site and report back to the next council meeting.
In his reply, De Jager said there is a tremendous need for a private hospital in Parys as many people thinking of moving here were put off by the absence of a private hospital.
Speaking to Gazette after the meeting, the DA caucus leader, Carina Serfontein, said De Jager would be greatly missed as a councillor. ‘He served the community and tried as far as possible to get the ruling party to meet its responsibilities towards the public. As a DA member, he will still be involved in the community,’ she said.
Councillors representing the DA, the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters, joined Mochela and the speaker, Neheng Mopedi in paying warm tributes to De Jager at the meeting.
