Is this wall worth R20 million? Unfinished project for designated Vaal clinic sparks widespread outrage

Outrage has erupted over whether the perimeter wall, which is intended for a new Boitumelo Clinic in Vaal, was worth nearly R20 million.

The spending on the wall that initially started 15 years ago has sparked outrage among community members, as they argued that basic infrastructure, such as functional waiting areas, consultation rooms, and sanitation facilities, should take priority over cosmetic projects.

In a written response to questions tabled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that the perimeter wall could not be completed due to “community disruptions” and the involvement of multiple contracts.

Nkomo-Ralehoko stated that the first contractor was awarded R3 886 307.21, the second R9 593 991.53, and the third R6 134 680.53, bringing the total spend to R19 614 979.09.

“Due to community disruptions, work was stopped on site, and the contractor did not return to the site; rather, they chose to terminate the contract by mutual agreement in April 2018 after a series of warnings from the IPM.”

Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that the project was initially scheduled for completion in February 2018, but delays saw a second contractor take over, pushing the deadline to March 2021. She added that Boitumelo Clinic, now 15 years old, will require a full reassessment as it moves into a new planning phase. 

“The Boitumelo clinic brief will need to be relooked at since it is 15 years old; therefore, the project is in the planning stage. Currently all projects in planning have been put on hold due to budget constraints.

“The project was terminated due to community interference and unrest. Currently the project is in the planning stage. Projects in infancy planning stages, including the new Boitumelo clinic, are currently halted due to budget reprioritization.”

She further stated that the initial budget for the clinic was R1.5 million, allocated for the project’s planning phase in the 2015/16 financial year, while a total of R40 million was set aside over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for its implementation

DA Emfuleni North Constituency Head Kingsol Chabalala slammed the project as a reckless waste of taxpayers’ money and called for an urgent independent audit of the Boitumelo Clinic development to determine how funds were spent and whether residents received value for money.

Chabalala conducted an oversight visit to the site, accompanied by members of the media, and The Star can confirm witnessing only an incomplete wall standing where a fully functional clinic was once promised. 

WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://rumble.com/v70sxfi-r20-million-wall-at-boitumelo-clinic-sparks-outrage-as-patients-queue-outsi.html

Chabalala said this glaring lack of progress raises urgent questions about the disappearance of millions in public funds and who ultimately benefited from the project.

“There is no visible clinic infrastructure besides a wall, a clear sign of how little progress has been made. This kind of wasteful spending by Gauteng Health highlights deep financial mismanagement and possible corruption. It also shows the department’s complete disregard for service delivery, while Premier Panyaza Lesufi continues to turn a blind eye to holding the MEC accountable.”

He added that the DA is calling for a full investigation into the Boitumelo Clinic project to uncover how nearly R20 million was spent, insisting that every cent be accounted for.

“We will also be petitioning the Gauteng Department of Health to urgently complete this long-overdue project.” Chabalala said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, several Boitumelo residents dismissed Nkomo-Ralehoko’s claims that “community disruptions” stalled the construction of the clinic, saying the allegations are baseless. They insisted that they had no reason to interfere with a project desperately needed by their community.

“The only time we ever went to the construction site was years ago when work had just started; we were hoping to get jobs, not to cause trouble,” said one resident. “Why would we disrupt something meant to help us?”

Meanwhile, residents also expressed anger over the poor state of the temporary clinic they currently rely on, describing it as overcrowded and inadequate. The small facility can only accommodate about five people inside, forcing the rest to queue outside in scorching heat or heavy rain.

“When it rains, we have to find something to cover ourselves with, it’s humiliating. We just want proper healthcare,” another resident added.

The Star reached out to the Gauteng Department of Health for comment, but the department said it has been waiting for a response from another department since Wednesday.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za