The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) mayoral candidate, Councillor Dr Mpho Phalatse, conducted an impromptu oversight visit at Princess Clinic on August 30.
Accompanied by several DA colleagues, the aspiring leader of the City of Johannesburg spoke to residents and an employee of the clinic to gauge the progress made in the last five years. Princess Clinic was the first site to pilot an extended-hours programme when the DA took temporary charge of the City back in 2016, a plan that has since been adopted by 27 other facilities of its kind.
Abel van Wyk was employed at the clinic when the hours were first extended, but explained how the hours have now been scaled back. Abel stated that concerns over crime, poor lighting and infrequent public transport made the clinic either dangerous or inaccessible at night, making the continuation of the extended-hours programme unsustainable.
Residents waiting outside the clinic in the late morning heat expressed their frustration about the level of service offered at the clinic. Mothers with their children complained that as of just past 11:00 that day, they had still not been attended to since arriving at 8:30. The longer lines have been more common since the beginning of the pandemic but those waiting asked that the clinic consider providing additional seating for them.
The clinic’s operating hours are from 7:00 to 18:00, ending four hours earlier than the extended hours implemented in 2016. Residents are requesting the return of the late-evening opportunity to seek medical services as the current conditions make even an ambulance service a rare sight. A City Power electrification project is currently underway, but Cllr Phalatse emphasised that a ‘holistic’ approach to improving safety and ease of access must be prioritised.
