Delayed Clinic Renovation Forces Patients Into Church Buildings

Delayed clinic: A much-needed clinic renovation project in Tsheseng village, QwaQwa, Free State, has been left in limbo—forcing patients to receive medical treatment in overcrowded and unsuitable old church buildings. The Evah Mota Clinic, which has been closed since 2022 for renovations, remains incomplete due to a funding dispute between the provincial Department of Health and the contracted construction company.

The renovation project, meant to upgrade healthcare infrastructure and improve service delivery in this rural community, is now 95% complete. However, progress came to a halt in November 2024 when Phunya Consulting, the contractor responsible for the work, walked off the site after months of non-payment.

According to Phunya Consulting executive Sipho Mgudlwa, the company suspended work after exhausting its own funds. Of the R10 million agreed upon for the clinic renovation, the Department of Health has only paid R7 million.

“We invoiced the department last year, but payments were not made. We continued the work using our own financial resources until we couldn’t anymore. Eventually, we had to leave the site,” said Mgudlwa.

He also revealed that this isn’t the first time the project has been delayed due to budgetary shortfalls. Despite repeated correspondence and formal letters, the department informed Phunya Consulting earlier this year that it lacked the necessary budget to complete the payment.

“The last communication we had was in March. Since then, we’ve had no response and no indication of when or if the balance will be paid,” Mgudlwa stated.

Makeshift Delayed Clinic Operating in Church Buildings

With the delayed clinic renovation stalled indefinitely, healthcare services have been moved to old church buildings in Tsheseng. These temporary facilities lack basic amenities, forcing both patients and clinic staff to work under harsh and often unsafe conditions.

GroundUp visited the church site last week and observed long queues outside, with many patients sitting on the ground while waiting to be seen by medical staff. Inside, medication and confidential patient records are being stored in spaces not designed for healthcare use.

Seipati Makume, a patient who has been visiting the makeshift clinic regularly, described the situation as degrading and unsafe. “The church is too small, and we have to wait outside no matter what the weather is like. There are no chairs, and the service is very slow. Imagine being sick and having to stand or sit on the ground in the rain,” she said.

This temporary setup not only compromises patient comfort and dignity but also risks the proper handling of medical supplies and private information.

Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the Free State Department of Health, confirmed that only R7 million of the R10 million project budget has been paid to the contractor. He explained that the delayed clinic renovation was nearing completion, with final tasks involving waste management systems and a water tank installation still outstanding.

“The Evah Mota Clinic is about 95% complete. Unfortunately, due to cash flow challenges within the department, there was a delay in processing the remaining payment, which led to the contractor exiting the site,” Mvambi said.

He emphasized that the department is aware of the urgency and is working on mechanisms to secure funding to complete the outstanding work. However, no clear timeline has been given for when renovations will resume or when the delayed clinic will reopen.

Residents of Tsheseng and nearby areas have voiced growing frustration over the stalled clinic renovation and its impact on healthcare access. Many are forced to travel longer distances to alternative clinics or endure long waits in inadequate facilities. Community leaders and patients alike have called on the provincial government to prioritize the completion of the delayed clinic, which serves as a vital healthcare hub in this underserved region.

Healthcare workers are also under strain, trying to maintain service quality under extremely challenging conditions. A nurse at the temporary clinic, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We’re doing the best we can, but we’re working without the necessary tools and space. It’s difficult to manage patient care properly when even basic resources are lacking.”

The stalled delayed clinic renovation is more than just a construction delay—it’s a disruption of essential healthcare services to some of the most vulnerable communities in the Free State. With public trust in the healthcare system already fragile, further delays could have lasting consequences for health outcomes in the region.

As the Department of Health scrambles to address its cash flow issues, residents of Tsheseng are left waiting, not just for a delayed clinic building—but for a healthcare system that functions as promised.

Source- EWN