The Town Two Clinic in Khayelitsha reopened on Monday, 16 February, after being temporarily closed for two weeks following extortion-related threats against security officers. (“Bullies Endanger Lives”, City Vision, 12 February 2026).
It is alleged that a group of men stormed into the health facility, demanding that the security company working there pay them money and threatening to kill the officers.
Strong security presence during reopening
Members of the City Police, neighbourhood watch and community policing forum were deployed to the clinic. Various community organisations were also present to ensure that the facility reopened without any disturbances.
Ward 93 councillor Thando Pimpi said everything was back to normal. He said as the community leaders they worked tirelessly to ensure the clinic resumed operations.
“Since the clinic was closed two weeks ago, we haven’t rested. We had various meetings with the City and other relevant stakeholders trying to resolve the impasse. We all agreed the facility must be opened for the benefit of the community,” said Pimpi.
Pimpi added that additional security measures are now in place to ensure everyone’s safety. The City has deployed its police officers, with the neighbourhood watch also monitoring the situation.
Community welcomes reopening
Khayelitsha Health Forum chairperson Mzanywa Ndibongo said the forum was delighted that the clinic was operating as usual. He described the disruption of such a much-needed facility in the face of criminality as unfortunate.
“As a forum, we are happy that at last the people of Khayelitsha will be able to access services again without any disruption. We promise that, as the KHF, we will monitor any developments at the facility. We appeal to the community to assist us by reporting anything suspicious to the authorities,” he said.
City condemns criminal intimidation
Mayco Member for Community Services and Health Francine Higham said the City condemned in the strongest possible terms the criminal intimidation and threats that led to the temporary suspension of services at the Town Two Clinic.
She said the safety of patients, staff and security personnel remains the City’s number one priority, and services were suspended to ensure appropriate safety measures could be put in place.
“We strongly condemn threats against healthcare workers and any disruption of services to a vulnerable community. No criminal elements can be allowed to hold essential services to ransom. We know how important this clinic is to residents, and we thank the community for its patience while we worked to ensure it was safe to reopen. Our priority is always the safety of patients, staff and security personnel, and we are doing everything possible to restore services safely and sustainably,” said Higham.
Higham added that while the facility was closed, City Health took steps to ensure residents continued receiving care.
Alternative services provided during closure
A mobile clinic operated at the Metro Police offices in Mandela Park, issuing chronic medication to clients enrolled in adherence clubs and to those scheduled to collect patient medicine parcels through the Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) partnership. Immunisation and reproductive health services were also provided, and residents were referred to nearby clinics where necessary.
