Last week, community members in Gugulethu, Cape Town picketed in the area, demanding timeframes for when construction of the new hospital would start. Photo: Sandiso Phaliso
While most residents agree they desperately need a new hospital, some don’t want to lose a popular sports field
By Sandiso Phaliso – this post first appeared on GroundUp
SUMMARY of the GroundUp story: Community Protest by Gugulethu residents to demand information from the Western Cape Health and Wellness Department about plans to build a new hospital there.
Opposition to Land Transfer: In July GroundUp reported that some local community members and sports clubs opposed transferring a sports field to the provincial government for hospital construction. The Gugulethu Sports and Development Trust uses the field on weekends, has a month-to-month lease with the City of Cape Town, and 22 schools use the field for inter-school matches.
Longstanding Advocacy for Hospital: The Movement for Change and Social Justice (a coalition of health, safety, and social service organizations) has been pushing for a district hospital with a trauma unit in Gugulethu since 2016, aiming for completion by 2026.
Demand for Improved Health Services & Issues at KTC Health Centre: Protestors demanded to know when construction would start, citing poor conditions at the existing KTC Community Health Centre like inadequate cleanliness, medication shortages, limited parking, and lack of wheelchair accessibility. They described KTC as outdated (built in the 1960s) and unable to meet the needs of Gugulethu and neighbouring areas like Philippi, Lusaka, Barcelona, Europe, and Kanana.
Gugulethu resident Thozamile Mtiki, who uses a wheelchair due to Fibrous dysplasia, stated, “It is impossible to enter the [KTC] clinic without help. It’s a nightmare for people living with disabilities because there are no ramps.” Mtiki said he had raised these issues with staff for years without any improvement.
Calls for Engagement: Mandla Majola from the Movement for Change and Social Justice expressed frustration over failed attempts to discuss the situation with the health department, noting that they receive “dozens of complaints daily” about KTC’s conditions. Majola stated, “We are firm and clear that we need a hospital but it must not come at the expense of destroying a sports field.”
Health Department’s Response: spokesperson Monique Johnstone confirmed that “no formal engagements have taken place as we are waiting for confirmation to use the identified site.” The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure is still in talks with the City of Cape Town over the site transfer. Johnstone assured that all stakeholders would be kept informed and mentioned the planned facility would include an obstetric unit and a well-equipped maternity ward.
Land Transfer Process: Jandre Bakker from the Department of Infrastructure stated, “The process has not been finalised as the City is still negotiating with the tenants of the land so that the Western Cape Government can receive vacant occupation once purchased.” James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, confirmed that in December 2022, the City Council approved the land transfer, although the process remains time-consuming but ongoing.
