Patients from Site C and surrounding areas were turned away from Nolungile Community Health Centre in Khayelitsha, Cape Town on Friday, 11 August 2023.
This after the clinic was vandalised, burnt, patients’ medical records stolen, and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs stolen.
An employee from the clinic told Daily Sun that it appeared those who vandalised mainly stole ARVs.
ALSO READ: Taxi strike: Kuyafiwa eCape Town!
“They didn’t steal much of any other medication. They cleaned out all the ARVs from the clinic. It looks like they were aware of where they are stored,” said the source who asked to remain anonymous.
The attack on the clinic happened on Tuesday, 8 August. Nurses and other employees were shocked when they arrived at work to find the clinic burnt and its windows broken.
Madala Thabatha Lungile (73) said he heard that the clinic had been burnt and he decided to go and see for himself.
"I just came to confirm that indeed the clinic was burnt and its windows smashed. It's wrong for people to do this in the name of a strike because this is the only clinic we have in our area. This isn’t right," he said.
He said although the strike was over, the community was left with a broken clinic.
"If a person is sick right now, they cannot be assisted because the clinic is closed,” he added.
Department of Health spokeswoman in Khayelitsha Abulele Dyasi, said they are making plans to ensure that the clinic starts operating soon.
“Nolungile clinic in Site C was torched and vandalised. It will take a while for this facility to be completely fixed however, plans are in place to partially operate early next week and provide essential healthcare services to our patients,” she said.
Brigadier Mnoneleli Magobiyane, Khayelitsha SAPS station commander, said a case of arson has been opened and is under investigation. No arrest has been made yet.
Throughout the strike, Santaco spokesman Nceba Enge distanced the taxi industry from the violence which had taken place. He said all they did was to withdraw their services.
