Jeppe Clinic closed due to bad building
JEPPE – The clinic will be closing down after refurbishment that cost R3 million failed to eliminate health risks to staff and patients.
Gauteng Department of Health will not act against the contractors that allegedly failed to fix Jeppe Street Clinic’s infrastructural problems after an exorbitant amount of money was spent on the project.
The clinic was initially closed in 2012 for a R2-million renovation that was completed in March 2014.
When problems resurfaced, including mouldy and smelly walls, it was closed again in March last year and reopened in November after R990 000 was spent to fix it.
Read: Newly revamped Jeppe Clinic officially handed over
This according to shadow MEC for health Jack Bloom, saying this was actually revealed by MEC Gwen Ramokgopa in a written reply to his questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
Responding to the questions sent to the department, Mogeru Morewane, chief director for Joburg Health District, told North Eastern Tribune that no action will be taken against the contractor.
“There are no plans to reclaim the money from the contractors as the problem is the building itself,” said Morewane.
Bloom said he is dismayed that so much money was wasted on contractors who are unable to do a good job to fix this clinic. “There needs to be a forensic investigation into probable corruption in the refurbishment fiasco at this clinic and accountability to ensure that all corrupt and incompetent officials are rooted out.”
The closure of this clinic will inconvenience about 2500 patients who use it every month and will have to travel further for their treatment.
About eight staff members were transferred to the 18th Avenue Clinic in Alexandra while patients will be redirected to the Esselen Clinic and the Hillbrow Community Health Centre.
Read: Four suspects face multiple murder charges in Jeppe
Morewane could not say when it will be reopened again but said patients have been notified via various platforms including using a laud-hailer in the Johannesburg CBD. “Clinic users were informed through stakeholders’ meetings, laud-hailers were used in the inner city where most of the clients are coming from, letters were written and distributed to all local churches, notices were displayed in strategical areas and pamphlets were distributed throughout the inner city.”
Details: Vuyo.Sabani@gauteng.gov.za
