Nquthu clinic under ‘severe pressure’

The Nquthu community is boycotting the Hlathi Dam Clinic, demanding that the security staff hired by the clinic be fired and new recruitment of staff be conducted.
Since last Monday the clinic staff have been operating under severe pressure from the angry community, who has been threatening to vandalise the clinic if their concerns are not considered.
Among their concerns, they complain about the recruitment system in the clinic, favouritism and a ‘dysfunctional clinic manager.’
The community is not satisfied with the way the clinic has been recruiting local people as security guards. According to the agreement the community has with the clinic manager, every three months three new security guards are supposed to be hired, in order to give everyone a chance.
The community, however, says the clinic manager has repeatedly hired the same people, and they demanded answers as to how this happened under her supervision. At the moment the clinic continues to operate, despite fear of threats by angry community members, but it is not clear as how long will this continue. It is understood that the Department of Health is to hold a meeting to probe the issue.