The ANC in the Western Cape has accused the DA-led provincial government of neglecting poor communities after an oversight visit found what it described as “deeply concerning” conditions at Matthew Goniwe Clinic in Khayelitsha.
During the oversight visit, officials said they found the clinic to be “severely overcrowded, structurally inadequate and no longer able to meet the needs of the growing population it serves”.
The visit, led by the ANC Caucus in the Western Cape Legislature, the ANC Caucus in the City of Cape Town and Subcouncil 10 councillors, also included briefings on stalled human settlements projects in the area.
‘Clinic understaffed’
According to the ANC, the clinic sees about 400 patients daily and more than 8 000 every month, while operating with only around 40 staff members, including non-clinical workers.
“The ANC Caucus was also disturbed by the erosion of patient privacy and dignity, with multiple patients often treated in the same room due to severe space constraints, while many patients are forced to stand outside in the rain because of inadequate waiting areas,” the caucus said.
