Unhealthy end to community meeting

The hopes of frustrated staff members at the health-care facility in Bell Street were yet again dashed last week as the councillor of Ward 14, an ANC ward, disrupted a meeting convened by the clinic’s newly elected steering committee.

In a desperate attempt to support staff at this facility, a steering committee comprising various DA members, was established to do just that.

However, moments after the committee as well as interested community members took their seats, Mr Kenneth Mkhonto, councillors of the ward in which the clinic is located, arrived, accusing the committee of not following the right procedures as he was not even invited to the meeting.

Mr Jo Koster, DA caucus leader in the municipality, who would also act as chairman of the committee, maintained that Mkhonto had been invited but was not interested.

This modern facility was built in 2010 but stood empty for over a year. According to Koster, Cllr Felicity Lange was approached by the matron of the facility for help. “At this point she was in charge of an empty building with no staff and nothing was happening,” Koster added. “Within three months the clinic was opened.”

According to Koster they decided to intervene once again after the clinic staff approached the DA councillors for help as Mkhonto had made no effort to establish a ward committee.

Chaos broke out as accusations flew back and forth and the meeting had to be abandoned.

Mkhonto claimed he had visited the clinic but the clinic’s personnel denied this and said that they had never even met Mkhonto.

As the people walked out Mkhonto invited attendees to rather return tomorrow Thursday when he will chair another meeting.