BRAAMFISCHERVILLE residents in Soweto had closed their local clinic for about two weeks.
This follows their service delivery protest, where they demanded better services, including a better clinic and for their ward councillor to step down.
They claimed that their clinic is too small to accommodate everyone.
After closing the roads for a day and burning tyres on the streets, residents closed the clinic, demanding that all the nurses vacate the premises.
This led to some residents struggling to get medical attention at the local clinic. When the clinic was closed, the residents were forced to access health services from Sol Plaatje Clinic, Itireleng Community Health Centre (CHC) and Discoverers CHC.
Residents had previously told Daily Sun: "We've been living here for more than 24 years, but we don't have a police station. We don't have tarred roads. Our clinic is in a bad state. We need a new one, and we've had enough of our councillors. He must step down."
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Joburg health district communication manager Sandile Gwayi told Daily Sun that the department is aware of the closure of the clinic.
“The department is very disappointed by the behaviour of some Bramfischerville community members who went to the clinic and intimidated staff members and subsequently closed the clinic for something that doesn't have anything to do with the clinic. The staff is now traumatised and lost trust from that community,” Gwayi said.
He said that following the resolutions taken in a meeting held on Wednesday, 27 March, between the Bramfischerville ward 49 stakeholders, including the local councillor and the Joburg health district management, the clinic would operate as of Tuesday, 2 April.
When the SunTeam asked if there'd be any consequences for residents who went to the clinic and threatened workers to leave the premises, Gwayi said there'd be no consequences.
Councillor Goodman Bolani said that he's aware of the service delivery grievances by community members, and he has made enquiries to relevant departments on this matter.
