Angry community demand Wannenburg Clinic operate 24 hours a day (Video)

This comes after a woman gave birth to a baby at the gate in the early hours of that morning outside the clinic’s gate without allowed inside.

November 4, 2020

Lebogang Sekgwama 1 minute read

An angry crowd outside the Wannenburg Clinic in Primrose.

Wannenburg Clinic saw an angry group of community members gather at its gate on the morning of October 30.

According to Makause resident Agree Mathebula, the community demanded the clinic remain open for 24 hours.

This was after a woman gave birth to a baby at the gate in the early hours of that morning outside the clinic’s gate without allowed inside.

Despite requests from GCN, the City of Ekurhuleni has not yet commented.

A clinic representative said security is not allowed to let anyone in the premises before operating hours.

“The community should put in a request for the clinic to operate for 24 hours.”

Residents Catherine Khumalo, Martha, Deliwe and Pertunia Maake said they helped the woman give birth on the pavement.

Lasia Scott, an angry resident, pointing to the Wannenburg Clinic gate where a woman gave birth on the pavement.

A shawl used to cover a woman who gave birth outside Wanneburg Clinic.

Catherine Khumalo holding up cloth used to help the cover the Makause woman who gave birth at the clinic gate.

“We covered her with blankets and bought a razor and wool at the tuck shop opposite the clinic. We asked the security to let her in but they refused,” said Deliwe.

Catherine said she was waiting in line to get inside the clinic.

“I helped the woman deliver her baby, I can even show you,” she said, while pulling out her blood-stained shawl.

“We used the wool to tie the baby’s umbilical cord. I was holding the baby waiting for the security to open for us,” said Catherine.

Gift Mukwevho from Camelot Road said he was walking past the clinic with his mother when they realised a woman was giving birth.

“We asked the security to move her away from the crowd and into the premises, under a shade at least but they refused.”

After the delivery, the mother and her baby were allowed into the clinic at about 7am.

Agree said every morning people wake up early to stand in the queue from as early as 4:30am.

“She was the first in the queue – sitting here since about 5am.”

He said security was already on-site at the time of the woman’s arrival.

Gift said the long queuing system needs to be addressed.

“An ambulance came at about 7:30 am and the gathered crowd dispersed at 10:30am.”

“We understood that we cannot shut down the clinic because the clinic is not like an ordinary shop. People still need to go to the clinic and get their medication,” he said.

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