Empty promises

FOUNDED IN 1857

COMMUNITIES on the Cape Flats can justifiably claim that they have been “cheated” out of a much-needed hospital since the GF Jooste Hospital in Manenberg was put out of commission in 2014.

At the time, the provincial Health Department had made grand promises of a new multimillion-rand hospital and alluded to it being built in the same area.

Why the department refused to divulge the location a new hospital remains a mystery. Ditto for the department’s reluctance to say when exactly people could have their hospital. It is thus not out of place for residents to feel they may be in for a very long wait, or even not see a new hospital materialise.

There seems to be merit in National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union provincial secretary Eric Kweleta’s words when he says: “As we speak there will never be a hospital in Manenberg.” The provincial government has some explaining to do. As we report today, Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo’s spokesperson Zimkhita Mquteni was asked very clear questions.

What we received in response did not answer the questions, but amounted to spin. We will leave this to you, the reader to draw your own conclusions.

THIS said, other questions need answering: why are Cape Flats communities treated this way? Is it because of the colour of their skins? Is this the way poor people get served?

The GF Jooste hospital building has been left to the vandals. This after people were told it would be used as a training facility for Metro Police. Nothing has come of it just like the provincial Health Department’s empty promise of a new hospital.

Now residents and passers-by have to stare at the ruins of what was once a facility where lives were saved.

A situation like this would be unheard of if it were in, say Plattekloof, Fresnaye or Camps Bay.

We urge those in power to do the right thing – start building the new hospital as you’ve promised. We also call for transparency. If there are reasons GF Jooste can’t or won’t be replaced, then say so. You owe it to all those disadvantaged people on the Cape Flats. These are people who can’t afford the luxury of the type of medical services their more affluent Capetonians enjoy.