Booysendal delivers state-of-the-art community clinic

Gone are the days when residents of Kiwi had to travel long distances to access proper healthcare.

The ceremony was also attended by the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality’s (TCLM) mayor, Friddah Nkadimeng, provincial Department of Health officials, the Bakoni ba Phetla Tribal Authority and members of the Booysendal Community Trust.
The villagers previously relied on a mobile clinic that came to the village on monthly basis.

The facility features a patient registration area, waiting room and admission rooms, observation rooms, an emergency room, consultation rooms, tuberculosis rooms, a pharmacy, a kitchen, ablution facilities, a boardroom, a patient record room and
many more.

Speaking during the handover, Peter Kriel, Booysendal South Mine’s mine manager, said, “Among the company’s core values, Booysendal places health, infrastructure and education first, as these are critical factors to the sustainability and development of the communities.

“This clinic will provide healthcare to communities who travelled 50 kilometres to access nearby clinics. Health is key; the clinic is for the benefit of Kiwi people and the surrounding communities, as these are ultimately the beneficiaries of improved health.”
Kriel added, “We understood the needs of the TCLM and the provincial government; that is the reason we chose to assist in erecting the clinic. Let’s take care of this beautiful clinic, cherish it and take good care of the facility, its surroundings and equipment. In future, we wish to celebrate the clinic’s anniversaries.”

Manzini noted that the new clinic had been opened at a crucial time, with the country battling Covid-19 infections and members of the community being in need of an accessible healthcare facility. “We are proud to be unveiling this facility today. We hope it will help ease the pressure of long queues for healthcare for patients,” said Manzini. “This gesture demonstrates the importance of public and private partnerships to improve the lives of the people. With the large population, the South African government cannot achieve its objective to maintain the general welfare of its citizens on its own. We need businesses to partner with us in order to enhance a healthy nation.”

The MEC thanked the mine for the facility. “We also wish to pass our gratitude to the progressive management of Northam Booysendal for positively agreeing to donate this health facility that will go a long way in improving the health status of the community here.

“The facility is fully fenced with a guard- house, paved parking and disabled-friendly access ramps. We therefore appeal to the residents to protect this facility, because it is here to render services to them. We rely upon you to take care of it and you should be the ears, eyes, and voice of this community. If you destroy this facility, you will have to wait years to get a clinic.”

Manzini urged locals to visit the clinic for check-ups, testing of chronic diseases and treatment. “We don’t want a sick society, if you feel sick come to the clinic and get treated.”

She said the Mpumalanga government was winning the battle against Covid-19.

“As a department, we did our best in managing the virus; our recovery rate is at 97 per cent. The whole province has 848 people infected with Covid-19. In TCLM only 28 people are currently infected. Although we have lost lives, we are doing our best to combat the virus.”

Nkadimeng applauded Booysendal for a job well done. “I would like to applaud this company; they are indeed adhering to the social labour plan. They recently handed over a road in Lydenburg constructed by a local contractor. Even today I was informed the Kiwi Clinic was also erected by a local contractor. The construction of the clinic created jobs for the locals and also improved the local economy.

We urge other mines to also assist in delivering key services to our areas.”

The chairperson of Booysendal Community Trust, Sydney Mpipi, urged the Department of Health to maintain the clinic. “We want this place to be maintained. The mine has done its job, it’s now left to the government to keep the clinic in good condition and well maintained.”