Randgate has waited nine years for a clinic, and one contractor has done more in three months than several contractors could do in three years.
Workers are once again busy with the clinic and seem to be making major progress. According to Manie Neethling, site agent for the current contractors (Motheo Construction), the clinic should be completed come November.
Sina Erasmus, councillor for the area, started fighting for a new clinic to be built in the area nine years ago. In 2003, she got wind that construction would finally begin.
Since construction was started, three contractors – all of whom failed to meet the required standards – have come and gone. The clinic has also been referred to as a massive waste of money by the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Jack Bloom, Gauteng DA Shadow MEC for Health.
The new contractors are hard at work, and Neethling said they have made many changes to what the previous contractors did. He said that in some areas they had to re-think the design. They also replaced the sewerage pipes, because they were not made of the correct material, and had to fix various other construction and design flaws.
Councillor Erasmus is excited about the new developments and said she can’t wait for the clinic to be completed, so that people from her ward (and beyond) can reap the benefit. She said things are finally happening for her ward and also made reference to Botha Street, Randgate which is currently being re-tarred.
The clinic will have, among other facilities, a physiotherapist, a pharmacy, a dentist and a gym.
The completion of the project is eagerly awaited, as is the answer to questions about whether the previous contractors were blacklisted and how they plan to give back to the community after failing to meet their obligations.
Also Read:
Half-built Randgate Clinic saga continues
Half-built Randgate Clinic a money mess
