Note to editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Thabang Rankoe and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Linda Day
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Metsimaholo will immediately engage the Department of Health and, if necessary, escalate the matter to the MEC to ensure that the Sasolburg clinic is restored to full functionality without further delay.
The DA has been informed by the Sasolburg Development Community Forum that the clinic has been without electricity for two weeks. The Department of Health, which is constitutionally mandated to ensure that public clinics are fully operational and that municipal accounts are up to date, has not yet resolved the issue.
A clinic cannot provide essential healthcare services without electricity. Nurses are unable to access computers to register patients or issue files, forcing them to turn away sick individuals. Medication that requires refrigeration risks spoiling, resulting in financial losses and reduced availability of vital medicines. Chronic and elderly patients, who rely heavily on consistent access to care, are particularly affected. Delays in restoring electricity therefore have a direct and severe impact on the health and well-being of the community.
After discussions with clinic management, DA representatives contacted the district municipality to seek immediate assistance. The Department of Health has yet to communicate a timeline for resolution. Should this delay continue, the DA will escalate the matter directly to the MEC to ensure accountability and prevent further harm to residents.
The DA encourages all concerned residents to support ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services in the Free State by signing the petition aimed at strengthening clinic operations and ensuring consistent service delivery across the province.