Mpumalanga Department of Health led by the MEC for Health, Mr Gillion Mashego, and the general manager of Samancor, Ms Ellie Wheal, turned the sod for the construction of the new clinic in Ackerville. The event was held on Friday, July 25.
“The total cost of the project is more than R5-million and this is part of Samancor’s corporate social responsibility to plough back to the communities for a good cause. This project will create employment for the people of eMalahleni during the construction phase, it is estimated that the project will be finished by the end of December,” reads a statement from the department.
In her welcome address, executive mayor of Emalahleni, Cllr Salome Sithole thanked all the people involved in ensuring that the clinic was to be built in the area.
Ms Smangele Shiba, clinic committee chairperson, also thanked the department and Samancor for the partnership in ensuring that the load of the always-overloaded Ackerville Clinic will be less after the completion of the new building.
Ferrometals believes that they will be making a difference in Ackerville after the building of the clinic.
“Currently the existing Ackerville Clinic is housed in a facility initially earmarked for normal residential occupation. This is not conducive for the administering of good quality health care to the community. Ferrometals holds its value in high regard and one of the values ‘caring for our people’ prompted the corporate social investment (CSI) committee to investigate the situation at Ackerville Clinic. Negotiations between Ferrometals and the local municipality started as early as in 2011. Land surveying, rezoning of the property and other final approvals for the proposed clinic took some time. Finally the project is now at an executing phase,” reads a statement from Ferrometals.
The project comprises three main components: fencing of the area, the main building and paving. By using local contractors to do the work, a number of employment opportunities were created as well as supporting small business enterprise.
Once completed the Department of Health will be the custodian of the clinic and the local municipality will ensure local government service delivery from a health perspective is achieved.
Mr Mashego thanked the partnership between the private and public sectors. He also thanked the clinic committee for being active, vibrant and having a vision.
“In celebrating Mandela, who was a legend, international icon and a leader we are justifying his legacy he left us. The public and private partnership will go a long way in helping our people because government cannot do it alone. We thank Samancor for a making a meaningful contribution. The Freedom Charter says that South Africa belong to all who live in it.”
Mr Mashego also highlighted the reception they received at Ackerville Clinic from one of the nurses. He said it was not a good one and urged all the health workers to change their altitude for the better. He even mentioned that they make a pledge when they graduated and that they must stick to that.
“Nursing is a calling, we know about the workload and the shortage of staff but that should not justify bad altitude. Health workers need to change so that they change the face of health sector. Together we can move the country forward.”
