OWING to a gang-related shootout that led to the temporary closure of Rosedale Clinic on February 11, the Eastern Cape Health Department has swiftly implemented enhanced safety measures to protect staff and patients.
Situated on Acacia Avenue, the clinic was temporarily shut after a stray bullet allegedly hit the facility during a confrontation between rival gangs, leaving residents apprehensive about crime and healthcare access.
The Eastern Cape Public Health spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, confirmed the deployment of two additional security guards and the installation of surveillance cameras to reinforce safety in a media statement. Despite the unresolved motives behind the violence, these efforts aim to assure the community that the Rosedale Clinic can continue providing essential services without further disruption, with operations having resumed on Monday, February 17.
According to Manana, a meeting with the Rosedale Clinic staff was held at the Emergency Medical Service College at Dora Nginza Hospital last week. The meeting concluded that Orsmond Clinic would be operational to alleviate congestion at Rosedale Clinic.
“There was a realisation that the issue of crime was a societal matter; hence there were discussions about involving the community and the police in making sure the Rosedale CHC is under 24/7 guard, seeing that it helps the community,” said Manana.
Speaking to UD Express, a resident, Esona Kota, said, “The Rosedale Clinic was closed before 2024 ended because of a shooting incident, and when I was supposed to go again last week, I heard that it was closed because of another shooting.” She added that owing to the clinic being closed, she could not visit the clinic when she had an allergic reaction and had to use what was available to her, which was children’s allergy syrups.
“It’s not safe to go with phones to the clinic or to walk alone, especially as a woman, because you never know what might happen on your way. Even spending half of your day in such an unsafe area is scary,” she said.
Hoping she is wrong, she believes that the installation of cameras and additional security will not address the issue at hand.
“It is not the clinic that is unsafe; it is the area around it. In recent years, the Rosedale area has become increasingly unsafe for residents,” Kota added.
SAPS spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, said, “SAPS Kamesh reported that they have a good working relationship with the clinic and no stray bullet hit the clinic as alleged. The members of SAPS were at the clinic on the day in question and remained at the clinic until they closed their doors for the day.”
Manana said, “The programme known as the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) provides an alternative mechanism to facilitate access to medicine for stable patients. External pick-up points provide the patient with a more convenient option for the collection of their repeat medicine, which has been dispensed and distributed via the programme.”
The statement said that R11 million for security upgrades has been allocated for the Metro by the Health Department. The department did this to reassure the Rosedale Clinic staff that the department is doing all that they can to help them.
The Eastern Cape MEC for Health, Ntandokazi Capa, pleaded with the community to assist them in keeping the clinic safe for its patients and staff and not to deny other residents an opportunity to visit their healthcare centre.
