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The Democratic Alliance(DA) has welcomed the opening of the new Finetown clinic in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg after many delays since it was completed three years ago.
The newly built clinic remained closed since its completion in 2020.
This is after the clinic they were utilising was petrol bombed in 2010 by local community, who demanded a permanent structure.
DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom says residents will benefit greatly as they will no longer have to travel a long distance to get medical treatment.
“This clinic was originally supposed to be completed in 2017, but the original contractor had to be replaced and the cost shot up from R35 million to R53 million. There were further delays in opening the completed building because of town planning issues, he explains.
According to Bloom, the root of the problem is the chronic dysfunction and corruption in the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID).
He continued, “Patients elsewhere in Gauteng suffering because of long building delays for the new Kekanastad, Mandisa Shiceka and Boikhutsong clinics.
“Another example is the R115 million wasted on uncompleted wards at the Sebokeng hospital that were supposed to be urgently built for Covid patients.
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“Firm steps need to be taken to employ competent and honest people at GDID so that building projects are completed on time and within budget.”
During the much anticipated launch, Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu-Nkomo-Ralehoko said the opening of the facility was a fulfilment of the commitment made during the tabling of the 2023/24 budget vote.
