Lisa Isaacs
MANENBERG residents are demanding answers on the promised and, as yet, undelivered bigger regional hospital for the area.
At a march through Manenberg on Thursday, a group of residents led by the Manenberg Safety Forum said they had received no feedback from authorities on the proposed hospital.
Reports emerged earlier this week of fears that certain schools in the area could be closed down or merged to make way for the new multi-billion-rand GF Jooste Hospital after Silverstream High School was allegedly told by an official to not take in new Grade 8s.
The provincial education department has refuted these claims.
The hospital was closed down in 2014, two years after the provincial government had promised that, by this year, a bigger and more efficient GF Jooste would be constructed.
Last July it was announced that a business plan case for the rebuilding of GF Jooste was being developed.
In April this year, the department said a site had been identified for the new hospital, costing about R2.9 billion, but would not reveal where the site was.
Manenberg Safety Forum chairperson Roegchanda Pascoe said the information was given by the authorities to the media, before the community had been consulted.
“Every time we hear in the newspapers they have allocated space for the hospital.
“Don’t run around the bush with us with these stories. They are totally undermining the people of Manenberg,” she said. “They are not discussing anything with the people. A hospital impacts on our lives. We stay here. We know the impact on our children, we know what is happening in homes.”
She said, since the announcement a year ago, there had been no movement with regard to the hospital.
“No school can close within Manenberg, there are too many children on the street.
“We are saying, enough is enough. We want quality service. We want quality education. Manenberg must have its own hospital,” she added.
Resident Suleiman Henry said the march was held on Youth Day to carry on the fight for the right to services and equality.
“We are honouring those people who were victims, those who were victimised during apartheid and we want to acknowledge and thank them. That is why we have also come out today… for their contributions,” he said.
Provincial education spokesperson Paddy Attwell said the department would always consider merging or closing schools if this was in the best interest of learners.
“The MEC Debbie Schäfer has not indicated any current plans to merge or close schools,” he said.