Rosedale Clinic in Kariega has shut its doors on July 17 indefinitely as escalating gang violence renders the facility too dangerous for both patients and healthcare workers.
According to Ward 49 Councillor Georgen Miggels, the area has been rocked by daily gunfire in recent days, with 15 shots fired on Friday, July 25 at around 18:00 and another 10 shots on Sunday night.
“Daily shootings have become the norm in Rosedale,” Miggels stated. “The closure of the healthcare facility leaves vulnerable residents without access to essential healthcare services, as frightened medical staff refuse to risk their lives to keep the facility operational. Patients needing medical attention must now seek help elsewhere, creating a healthcare crisis in an already troubled community.”
In an effort to help residents have access to public healthcare, Miggels organised alternative facilities for residents who would have been making use of the clinic. These alternative locations are Tamboville Multi-Purpose Community Centre, located at the corner of North Street Extension and 24th Avenue, and URC / VGK Ebenhaeser Uitenhage, located at 41 Bloekom Road, Thomas Gamble. At these two locations, residents can expect to find the same services that they would be getting at the Rosedale Clinic; however, there are currently no mental health services available in the Rosedale area.
Miggels said that residents in need of mental health services and prenatal care are to visit Park Centre Clinic at the corner of Church and Cannon Street, and that residents in need of x-rays and social workers are to visit URC. “At the moment, dental care will be done on a mobile service basis, but those services will be available for residents soon.”
UD Express previously reported that owing to a gang-related shootout that led to the temporary closure of Rosedale Clinic on February 11, the Eastern Cape Health Department implemented enhanced safety measures to protect staff and patients; however, violence continues to plague the area, preventing community members from receiving healthcare. To combat the situation at that time, 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.
Miggels said that the clinic needs armed response. The current security guards are unarmed and are expected to protect the clinic staff and its patients against people who have guns, which would be fighting a losing battle. “If gunshots go off and the security guards run for shelter to avoid being shot, I would not blame them. They are not protected nor are they trained against gunfire, so I understand if they want to protect themselves. We need armed security for that area.”
He added, “In Rosedale it has become a norm to hear gunshots. Every day you can expect a gunshot. If you don’t hear it for a day or two, you get surprised by how quiet it was that day. That is not something that should be a norm. All residents should feel safe in their homes and areas.”
Miggels believes that the clinic is too far from the police station and that if there was a mobile law enforcement unit near the clinic, it would reduce the response time for police to get there, with the hope that it would deter criminals from the area. “The police already have a vast area to cover with few resources like vehicles. This really has a negative impact on the safety of our residents.”
Miggels further said, “Criminals know that the SAPS Kamesh is understaffed and under-resourced, so what they do is they occupy the one vehicle that is busy patrolling the streets, which cannot respond because it is currently responding elsewhere, which leaves a window for criminals to commit their crimes.”
According to SAPS spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, SAPS Kamesh was informed that the Rosedale Clinic had been closed since July 17. “The Kamesh station management and the Community Policing Forum are in communication with the Department of Health to explore how they can work together to address the problem. SAPS Kamesh is aware of the shooting in the Rosedale area; however, we cannot share their operational plan with the public.”
Miggels concluded, “I am appealing for government intervention in addressing this critical issue affecting our community. As residents, we are not in a position to directly confront the violence owing to safety concerns. Instead, we respectfully request that the government provide support through increased law enforcement presence or the deployment of an anti-gang task team to help restore peace and security in our area.”
The Eastern Cape Department of Health was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to print on Wednesday, July 30.
