RESIDENTS in Uitenhage are at their wits end with delay in service delivery to the area with some of the complaints being that there are not enough clinics, endless number of potholes and a multi-purpose centre inaccessible to the community.
Chairperson for the ACDP in Uitenhage Denver Meintjies said, there are approximately eight clinics in KwaNobuhle while in Uitenhage there are only two clinics, Rosedale Clinic and Kabah Clinic which is an old structure.
“When comparing the number of clinics in KwaNobuhle compared to Uitenhage, we have to keep in mind the households and the vastness of the geographical size in proportion to number of clinics,” said Meintjies.
He further said three clinics were to be built in Uitenhage, but the construction of these clinics was brought to a halt in 2013 when the Eastern Cape Department of Health took over the primary health care sector.
“There has to be access to health care within a 5km radius. Health care is not a luxury, it is a priority,” said Meintjies.
“I believe the Eastern Cape Department of Health should get their house in order and plan for a clinic in Tamboville, Tiryville and Blikkiesdorp which is long overdue.”
Apart from the clinics Meintjies further said like many in Uitenhage he is also frustrated about the potholes in the area.
He said there are several potholes along 24th Avenue in Tamboville but the most concerning is the huge pothole on the corner of Avocet Street and Acacia Avenue in Rosedale.
“There is a big pothole in the main road which is a servicing road for public transport and many private vehicles. If you do not know this area and you are driving at night, it is a disaster because your car will get damaged,” said Meintjies.
In a bid to improve his neighbourhood, he plans to fill the potholes in his street which he said are much smaller than many of the other potholes in the town.
“I will make it as strong as possible so that it can last for a while. Unfortunately, the pothole on the corner of Avocet Street and Acacia Avenue is much bigger and needs to be fixed by the municipality,” said Meintjies.
According to Meintjies, the multi-purpose centre on the corner of North Street and 24th Avenue has still not been opened.
The UD Express reported last year that the centre in Tamboville was built in 2014 but has not been opened or been of any use to the community.
He said the state-of-the-art centre can be used for soup kitchens, women and youth empowerment projects, tennis practice and it can be used by different religious groups.
“I am very concerned about the centre because they used taxpayer’s money for the construction of the building and I do not know why it has not been opened to the community,” said Meintjies.
“I am determined to get the multi-purpose centre opened and I will not stop speaking about it until the centre is given back to the community.”
