Language barrier among issues reported at Rethabile Clinic
Patients told the Health MEC during a surprise visit to Rethabile Clinic that they felt excluded when staff communicated primarily in SePedi.
POLOKWANE – Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego has encouraged patients to file formal complaints when they experience poor service at healthcare facilities in the province.
Mashego made this appeal during a surprise visit to Rethabile Health Centre last Wednesday, where she assessed the facility’s service delivery. Her visit revealed several ongoing issues, including queues and slow service, which are often attributed to staff shortages.
Rethabile Health Centre has gained a reputation for these challenges, and Mashego acknowledged that other facilities, such as Buite Clinic, also struggle with overcrowding, equipment shortages and limited medication supplies.
Read more: Mixed views on service delivery at Rethabile Clinic
She stressed the importance of fostering respectful relationships between patients and healthcare workers, especially nurses and urged patients to voice their dissatisfaction constructively to support better cooperation between staff and the public.
During her visit, some patients shared their concerns about certain practices at the facility.
One patient, who had gone to collect chronic medication, expressed frustration with how security personnel divided patients into separate lines based on their medical needs.
“The guards tell us that those seeking chronic medication should queue separately from others. It’s humiliating because people start making assumptions about you,” the patient said, adding that the practice violates Section 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy and informed consent.
Read more: Mother told to buy cough syrup due to a delay in ordering medication at Rethabile Clinic
Language barriers also remain a problem at the health centre.
Some Afrikaans and English-speaking patients told Observer they felt excluded when staff communicated primarily in SePedi.
One patient recalled that announcements about the separate queues were made in SePedi, leaving him confused and hesitant to speak up.
“When they spoke in Pedi, I didn’t understand, but I also didn’t feel comfortable asking for clarification since we are a minority here,” he shared.
Read more: Slow service still a problem at Rethabile Clinic
A woman who visited the clinic for family planning expressed frustration with the time-consuming processes.
“I first had to collect my file, then have my blood pressure checked, and finally wait in another queue for medical attention. These steps could easily be handled by one office, saving time,” she explained. Mashego’s visit follows a pattern of unannounced inspections at healthcare facilities across the province.
Former Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba also encountered similar complaints about language barriers during her visit to the centre in February last year.
