Gauteng Premier Candidate Vuyiswa Ramokgopa responds to Soshanguve residents’ call for action on challenges stemming from the non-functional Boikhutsong Clinic.
Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, the premier candidate for RISE Mzansi in Gauteng, conducted a community engagement tour in Soshanguve. The Soshanguve Block T community extended an invitation to RISE Mzansi to visit and discuss some of the challenges they are facing.
Ramokgopa was present to listen to the struggles and grievances of this community, particularly regarding their local clinic, Boikhutsong Clinic. Community members raised issues with service delivery, including lengthy waiting times, inadequate cleanliness, and staffing shortages.
One of the primary concerns raised by the community is the fact that a clinic designated for their use has never been operational. This issue stems from faulty stormwater drainage construction, which has prevented the clinic from opening its doors.
The community’s primary concern revolves around the non-utilisation of a clinic designated for their benefit. This issue stems from improper stormwater drainage construction, which has resulted in the clinic remaining closed.
Residents are demanding that the local municipality take immediate and appropriate action to rectify the situation.
“As a consequence of the absence of proper stormwater drainage infrastructure, water cascades down the roads into residents’ yards, posing significant challenges.”
“This situation particularly affects elderly individuals, impeding their ability to navigate safely through the area.”
Ramogopa further highlighted that the campaign has been exceptionally successful, with warm receptions in every community they visit.
“Rise Mzansi acknowledges that there’s a loss of trust in politicians and their promises. Therefore, we refrain from making empty pledges to the people.”
“We ourselves are ordinary citizens we just want to see change and believe that this country needs new leadership,” Ramokgopa added.
Jabulani Findani, a notable figure within the community, articulated the collective discontent of Soshanguve residents, asserting that they feel abandoned by the government. These grievances have persisted for a considerable duration, with little to no alleviation of their concerns.
Findani, in his role as a community leader, brought attention to several hardships faced by the residents.
“We have a high crime rate, and the youth is in need of jobs, When it’s rainy the water flows into our yards from the clinic and we have been complaining for so long even the municipality is failing us,” he said.
The community also mentioned that they wrote a Memorandum to Tshwane Offices, and they are still waiting for a response.