Manenberg residents say they have little knowledge about the future of the GF Jooste Hospital but call on the City of Cape Town to stick to their initial plan of renovating the structure to provide better medical care to the community. This follows an outcry from Manenberg CPF’s Pastor Lewellyn Adams and residents after vandals and thieves stripped away much of the hospital’s structure.

“We currently don’t know what the fate is of our hospital. Jooste hospital was closed to extend the outpatient facility but now we hear that the structure could be turned into a police academy instead. No one has come to us as residents and told us about this plan,” Adams said.

Adams mobilised the support of concerned residents who then met with the Department of Public Works on the problem of security against vandals and thieves at the hospital site in Manenberg. Rumours of a possible police academy in place of their hospital was concerning, he added.

It’s been reported that the City of Cape Town is in discussions to convert the dilapidated building into a Safety and Security policing training college. Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith said the Western Cape government has proposed that the hospital be transferred to the city council once the issue was finalised.

“The community wants the hospital as it was before with the extensions. As we know, before there was no outpatient facility so the reason for the closure was to make these changes that we need. There is a need for that here considering the violent crimes that occur in the area on a regular basis.

The hospital was closed in 2013 after its medical emergency was relocated to the new Mitchell’s Plain Hospital. The majority of GF Jooste hospital staff was also transferred to Mitchell’s Plain hospital. The new GF Jooste Hospital was earmarked for completion in the 2018/19 financial year.

Currently, most Manenberg residents are accessing medical services at Heideveld Community Development Centre, but patients have bemoaned the level of service there. It’s been reported that Heideveld facility is buckling under the pressure of the influx of patients from Jooste.

“Many patients come home without getting medical assistance. There are just not sufficient doctors in Heideveld. The Manenberg community wants the GF Jooste hospital back as the hospital and nothing else,” Adams stressed.

The final closing of GF Jooste Hospital is expected to be in April next year when the hospital’s emergency centre plus a 30-bed overnight ward will move to the back of the Heideveld Community Development Centre.

Since news of the vandalism at Jooste hospital surfaced three weeks ago, Adams said a 20man security team, accompanied by the protection of 10 trained guard dogs are securing the site daily.

However, Adams explained that the community is holding onto the hope that their hospital will be restored and opened in 2016 as stated by the City of Cape Town. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)