24 February 2025
The Eastern Cape health department has opted to fix up this former tavern which has served as a clinic for decades rather than build a clinic. Photo: Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik
In the 1970s, a tavern in Tsomo, Eastern Cape, was turned into a clinic. The building is cramped, dilapidated and poorly maintained. But the provincial health department, citing budget constraints, has opted to fix it rather than build a fit-for-purpose clinic.
“As you see this is a house. The dining room is a waiting area … What used to be the kitchen is the reception,” says clinic committee member Sidima Sukwana.
“Our fear is that this place is someone’s house and there’s been rumours that the owners want their place back,” says resident Sabelo Lehlakane.
He said the no one knows anymore what agreement exists for its use.
“We are not even sure if there was something written down … This place still belongs to someone, not the government,” he says.
Sukwana said officials had made “all sorts of empty promises about building us a proper clinic”. He said they have written to the provincial government after a previous health MEC promised them a new clinic more than ten years ago.
“Each time after we sent a letter, an official would come, take photos or go around the facility, then promise to give feedback, but that would never happens,” he says.
When we visited on Monday, patients were standing outside in the heat. There is no shelter for waiting patients. The clinic has three consulting rooms, two with no windows or proper ventilation.
We found a caravan used as a guard room and a two-room shack used as a staff space. Only one of three female public toilets is working, and there is one toilet for males. The staff share one toilet. Water comes from a tank.
Patient Nizole Falthenjwa, from Lwalweni village, said services at the clinic are not bad.
“At least today I was helped within four hours. On some days we wait longer, especially when it’s children’s dates for immunisation. You would find mothers standing outside with their children in this heat,” she said.
Provincial health department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said they had budgeted R958,000 for 2025/26 to 2027/28 to cover electrical fencing, road access, signage, sewerage and sanitation, solar panels, a waiting area and water.