Latest news with #EFFinGovernment
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Push for better service delivery in Centurion
The Tshwane metro is working to improve the quality and consistency of service delivery in Centurion with a range of targeted maintenance efforts and long-term structural reforms. This is according to MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, who recently outlined the metro's ongoing initiatives in Region 4, where several areas are currently benefiting from a range of daily maintenance operations. She said streetlight maintenance was completed in wards 69, 78, 65, 48, 57, 61, and 64 between June 30 and July 5. 'Areas that received attention during this period include Eldoraigne, Zwartkop, Highveld, Lyttelton, Erasmia, Laudium, Rooihuiskraal, and The Reeds,' said Morodi. Dear residents of Centurion we are happy to announce that after many years of the failed Da Tshwane administration our Centurion R55 street lights are on . We continue to correct the Da 8 years mess #EFFinGovernment — Obakeng COT MMC Environmental Agriculture . (@RamaboduObakeng) July 2, 2025 'At the same time, stormwater infrastructure was serviced in wards 61, 77, 57, and 70, covering locations such as Laudium, Olievenhoutbosch, Sunderland Ridge, Wierdapark, and Lyttelton.' Morodi said grass cutting was conducted between July 1 and 4 in wards 57, 65, 64, 61, and 69, including Die Hoewes, Highveld, Laudium, Rooihuiskraal, and Eldoraigne. Just received work that @CityTshwane Region 4 Urban Management team is cutting grass at Lenchen and Magiel Street, Hennopspark today. Thank you for logging the call🙏🏼 — Henriette Frohlich (@henriettefroh) June 30, 2025 'Tree pruning took place in Pierre van Ryneveld, Wierdapark, The Reeds, and Eldoraigne, that fall within wards 70, 64, 69, and 79.' Thank you, @CityTshwane Region 4 Urban Management Team for trimming trees that were touching overhead wires at Villagers Lane, Irene. #CenturionMatters — Henriette Frohlich (@henriettefroh) June 23, 2025 She added that these functions form part of daily operations in the metro and are not tied to a fixed project timeline. 'Maintenance work takes place every day and includes potholes, tree pruning, grass cutting, stormwater, and streetlights. 'Our goal is to ensure equitable service delivery to all areas without prejudice,' she said. To strengthen internal capacity and reduce reliance on private contractors, Morodi confirmed that on June 3, the metro has acquired additional cherry pickers, as part of its plan to purchase 100 in total. Good morning Tshwane. We've have just unveiled 14 Cherry Pickers that will be distributed to our regional teams to enhance service delivery. This first batch of 14 vehicles forms part 100 that we expect in this financial year. For years, our workforce has grappled with a shortage… — Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) June 3, 2025 'The cherry pickers are a vital part of improving electricity and streetlight repairs, while also supporting functions such as tree pruning. It's part of a broader strategy to enhance in-house capability and cut unnecessary costs,' she said. The metro has also refurbished and reopened the Pretorius Park Depot, which will now focus on servicing water, sanitation, and electricity vehicles. 'The depot, previously shut due to a shift toward outsourcing, now boasts modern technology that can identify driver negligence and ensure accountability through improved supervision. 'This is a key move toward ensuring quicker response times and better control over municipal resources,' Morodi added. She added that to further support parks and horticultural services, the metro recently allocated R11-million to procure tools and equipment across all seven regions. She said the metro has started purchasing a total of 687 various tools and equipment, such as ride-on rotary mowers, mechanical hedge pruners, chainsaws, brush cutters, and pole pruners. Good morning Tshwane. Today, we are arming our workforce with tools of the trade. We are handing over handover the first batch of over 450 pieces of horticultural equipment to further accelerate service delivery throughout our city. This equipment will be distributed across our 7… — Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) July 2, 2025 In Olievenhoutbosch, resident Sizakhele Skhosana said she was pleased to see recent repairs to streetlights near the clinic on Legong Street. 'Walking in the early morning darkness was a daily reality for many of us. I had to take my children to the clinic before sunrise, and it was terrifying.' She recalled instances where she had to hold her breath and walk fast every time she heard footsteps behind her. 'Since the lights were fixed, things have changed. I finally feel safe on those streets. It's a big relief, and I hope the city keeps it up,' said Skhosana. Ward 106 Councillor, Kenneth Masha, confirmed the repairs and said he was informed ahead of the work on both Legong and Rethabile streets, and this allowed him to monitor progress. However, he expressed concern over communication gaps with city officials. 'Some maintenance work is well executed, but too often the teams don't inform us. That makes it hard to track what's been done and to give accurate feedback to residents. 'I understand the MMC acts on input from the regional councillors' forum, and I can't fault her for that, but the ground-level teams must improve their coordination with councillors.' In Valhalla, resident Isaiah Le Roux said he's noticed improvements, but believes the metro still has work to do. 'It's clear the metro is trying, and we appreciate the effort, but we need better communication. We often don't know what's happening until it's already done, or until we notice something hasn't been fixed.' Councillors from other wards shared concerns about inconsistent delivery. Ward 69 Councillor Cindy Billson said some backfilling had been completed, but other work was done poorly. 'Streetlight maintenance in June focused mostly on Ward 70, not ours. I've approved two community projects where residents will handle their own streetlight installations, and we're planning a larger one for the ward,' she said. In her update to residents on her June 2025 Region 4 report, Billson mentioned that 49 out of 99 pothole repair requests in Ward 69 had been addressed and completed, but that five service trenches remain open. 'On electricity, the number of abnormal feeder cables has dropped from 107 in October 2023 to 41 in May 2025.' Billson added that vandalism of substations continues to contribute to power outages. 'Water service performance has been more positive, with 87 out of 103 complaints resolved in May, and all 30 wastewater complaints fully addressed.' Ward 70 Councillor Marika Kruger Muller criticised the current process for streetlight maintenance prioritisation. 'Councillors are asked to pick three or four streets for repairs, which I believe is unfair. That system ignores long-standing complaints and opens the door to favouritism. 'I also receive complaints about unresolved issues that are marked as fixed, and that's very worrying.' Ward 64 Councillor Alta de Kock said with the recent maintenance work, little impact was felt in her ward. 'Only one block had grass cut. Streetlights are still a major concern, and cable theft is another huge issue. One of the traffic lights has been out for more than a week. Substation security is a priority right now.' Ward 57 Councillor David Farquharson said some parks had been maintained well and a few streetlights fixed, but overall progress has been slow. 'There's a major reorganisation underway to split water and electricity into separate departments under a regional operations centre. 'That could be positive, but right now water repairs are taking too long, and that's concerning.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Mayor leads inspection of Region 3
Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya, accompanied by members of her mayoral committee, conducted a recent site inspection walkabout around areas in Region 3. Moya says the region 3 team will be responsible for delivering on the service delivery gaps that have been picked up during their scouting exercise. Some of the service delivery issues observed include a lack of public toilets, illegal ads, illegal parking, and the reopening of the Reserve Bank offices. 'We took a walk in Sunnyside today to observe the work done by our teams since we launched #ReASpana in November 2024. We've done the work, but we still have a long way to go. The visit today was part of our scouting efforts. We shouldn't wait for people to report problems when we can spot them by being proactive,' Moya said. She encouraged residents to adhere to by-laws to ensure the city runs smoothly, insisting that lawlessness in the city must come to an end. 'There is a public toilet on Sisulu Street in the CBD. Members of the public can use this facility without the need to urinate in public areas. Just metres from this public toilet, evidence of fresh urine is littered near trees and corners. This is not the city we want to live in,' Moya said. MMC for Environment and Agriculture, Councillor Obakeng Ramabodu, expressed similar sentiments, particularly calling out male residents who believe the metro is their personal toilet. 'This is what we're experiencing, where people urinate everywhere, even when public toilets are available. We want to call on all our residents to stop this behaviour. Let's take care of our city. We are fighting for a clean city, and you need to join us on this journey. We won't have a clean city when people urinate wherever they feel like, and they have no excuse. There is a toilet just around the corner, so let's work together.' The mayor also said that the Reserve Bank offices will reopen in August, so inner city residents can expect more congestion. 'The Reserve Bank has been closed for renovations in the past two years. It's expected to reopen in August. Over 2 000 employees will be making their way to work here, adding to the congestion in the CBD. We recently met with the Reserve Bank about preparing traffic congestion control for this transition,' Moya said. Watch here: Massage to Male individuals in the City of Tshwane . ' if the shoe fits, wear it '#EFFinGovernment — Obakeng COT MMC Environmental Agriculture . (@RamaboduObakeng) July 2, 2025 Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Olievenhoutbosch clinic hours revamped to ease patient load
Long queues and understaffing at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic may soon be things of the past as the national government has put plans in place to extend the clinic's operating hours. The aim is to resolve understaffing and long queues to help alleviate the challenges raised by the community recently. Olievenhoutbosch patients have for years complained about inadequate healthcare services, which have resulted in struggles to access to medical care. To address these issues, the government is implementing an initiative that aims to allow more patients to be assisted and reduce the strain on exhausted healthcare teams. Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Provincial Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and Tshwane MMC for Health Tshegofatso Mashabela visited the clinic on April 15 to assess the situation firsthand. Deputy Minister Dr Joe Joe Phaahla and MEC @NkomoNomantu undertaking an oversight visit at Olievenhoutbosch clinic to more effectively address operational and infrastructural challenges faced by the community and staff. #AsibeHealthyGP — Tshwane District Health Services (@HealthTshwane) April 15, 2025 The @HealthZA Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and MEC @NkomoNomantu conducting an oversight visit at the Olievenhoutbosch Clinic's pharmacy to assess medical capacity. Security cameras were installed after a burglary contributed to medicine shortage. #AsibeHealthyGP #TacklingG13 — Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) April 15, 2025 Mashabela explained that the purpose of their visit was to inaugurate a pilot programme designed to extend the clinic's operating hours in direct response to the overwhelming patient volumes in the area. 'This pilot programme signifies a significant step towards improving healthcare in the region,' she noted. She stated that a benchmarking exercise was conducted as part of the visit to explore the feasibility of implementing a 24-hour service at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic. ♦️In Pictures♦️ Breaking barriers in healthcare delivery! Visit to Olivenhoutbosch Clinic marks a significant milestone towards improving services for residents in the region.#EFFinGovernment — 𝔹𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕘𝕠 𝕆𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕨𝕖 (@Ngwana_Badimu) April 15, 2025 ♦️In Pictures♦️ Today, the MMCof Health is with Deputy Minister of Health and the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Health Services in Gauteng, paid a visit to the Olivenhoutbosch Clinic. The purpose of their visit was to inaugurate a pilot program designed to extend the… — 𝔹𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕘𝕠 𝕆𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕨𝕖 (@Ngwana_Badimu) April 15, 2025 'The aim is to ensure that primary healthcare services are accessible and available round the clock, making quality healthcare a reality for the residents of Tshwane. 'By pushing the boundaries of traditional operating hours and exploring innovative solutions, health officials are demonstrating their commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the community.' The MMC added that this initiative not only aims to ease the burden on existing healthcare facilities but also represents a proactive approach towards delivering comprehensive and efficient healthcare services to all residents in the region. During the visit, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko highlighted that population growth in the area had outpaced service delivery. 'There is a high number of people coming here. The population is growing in this place, but the services, in terms of this heart of health, have not been growing with it,' she said. She mentioned that this concern aligns with Premier Panyaza Lesufi's previous suggestion that a hospital, whether regional or district, needs to be built to address these service delivery challenges. Phaahla also noted that the health department had received complaints about the unavailability of medicine at the clinic. Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says @HealthZA received a complaint about medicine unavailability at Olievenhoutbosch Clinic. He clarified the issue stems from poor communication from healthcare providers, not stock and the clinic has 97% medicine availability. #AsibeHealthyGP — Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) April 15, 2025 He said that they initiated discussions to gather feedback on this issue. However, a subsequent report from both the metro and the province, confirmed by a representative of the clinic committee, revealed that further investigation found no evidence supporting the claims of a shortage of medical supplies. 'The report we received also states that the medicine stock at the clinic is about 97%,' he stated. Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo provided further details on the pilot programme. He told Rekord that if the proposed extended service hours budget is approved, the operating hours will be from 16:00 to 19:00 on weekdays only. 'The pilot programme is expected to run for the financial year 2025/26, and its success will depend on the review of outcomes,' said Mashigo. 'The expected outcome is improved access to primary healthcare services.' Mashigo said that various staffing models are being investigated, and the best option will be implemented pending budget approval. He confirmed that the clinic will continue to implement the appointment system currently in place while also accommodating walk-in patients to manage patient volumes and waiting times during the extended hours. 'Both appointment systems and walk-ins will be accommodated. 'The success of the pilot programme will be evaluated based on increased utilisation rates, decreased waiting times, improved health indicator outcomes, and enhanced patient experiences,' said Mashigo. He added that if the pilot programme proves successful, there are plans to make the extended hours permanent, contingent on budget availability. Ward councillor Kenneth Masha expressed optimism regarding the programme's potential impact, believing it will help ensure that many community members can receive the assistance they need. 'With the current operating hours, the nurses are now only able to assist about 400 people, so at least with the added hours, more people can get help,' he said. He estimated that at least 100 more patients could be served during the extended hours. 'The lack of sufficient healthcare facilities in the area is not a new issue and has been a concern for many years,' he said. He noted that multiple complaints regarding the clinic's inadequacies have been raised since 2014. 'Over the years, there have been serious conflicts between community members and foreign nationals who stay in the community because most of the foreign nationals would arrive early, around 03:00, to queue and take up the whole space,' he recalled. Masha shared troubling incidents from the past, where young girls would leave while it was still dark to queue, leading to some of them being attacked. 'The clinic is not adequate, and we need a bigger health facility, like a community health centre or a hospital, which would be of great assistance to the community,' he stated. As the population in Olievenhoutbosch has grown significantly, Masha insisted that a single clinic cannot cater to all those people, resulting in residents overflowing into nearby clinics. He mentioned that at some of these facilities, residents are even turned away. 'Laudium Community Health Centre and Kalafong Hospital are among some of the healthcare facilities that have welcomed residents of Olievenhoutbosch.' Masha expressed relief that residents' complaints have finally received attention, thanks to the MMC for Health's repeated visits to the clinic. 'The MMC has been to the clinic about three times this year, and she has seen the challenges that residents face.' Residents also shared their experiences and ongoing struggles. Ext 13 resident Basetsana Khumalo expressed hope for the new programme. 'I often wait hours at the clinic just to see a nurse. This extension could mean I finally get the care I need without spending half my day in the line,' she said. She acknowledged the difficulties many in her community face, particularly during peak hours. 'A lot of people leave the clinic without receiving help after waiting for long hours.' Another resident, Khwezi Ngcobo, shared that she often has to take time off work just to get to the clinic early. 'With more hours, I hope I can manage my health without sacrificing my job.' Ngcobo mentioned past incidents where overcrowding led to delays in care, causing significant health issues for herself and her neighbours. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
