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Wcape unveils multi million rand plan for Manenberg

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The face of Manenberg will be transformed in the coming years after the Western Cape government announced a groundbreaking new plan to improve the condition of the gang infested area. At a briefing on Wednesday, Premier Helen Zille said that while the investment initiative will focus on addressing the issue of gang violence and drug abuse, it will also provide excellent public health care and social upliftment. This comes amid questions around the future of the GF Jooste hospital following crime and vandalism at the current site.

According to Zille along with Western Cape Minister of Health, Nomafrench Mbombo, the current GF Jooste site is too small to accommodate the vision of excellent healthcare services.

“Previously the Manenberg and surrounding area was served solely by GF Jooste Hospital, which was a district hospital. The rebuilding of the GF Jooste Hospital as a Regional Hospital will make Manenberg one of the best serviced public healthcare areas in the country, served by three major facilities where previously there was one,” Zille told media.

The City of Cape Town has already expressed an interest in acquiring the old GF Jooste site for the purpose of it’s Safety and Security Policing and Community Training College. The plans to turn the old GF Jooste site into a Metro Police deployment station and a training institution has already been approved by the Western Cape cabinet.

“For a suburb so inflicted by gangsterism, the gaining of a permanent metro police presence eight in the heart of Manenberg would be an historic development for residents,” Zille added.

A site for the new hospital has not yet been located but Minsiter Mbombo says the process of re-building will begin as soon as possible.

The Manenberg Public Investment Initiative’s objective aims to improve the quality of life of citizens. At the briefing, Zille further explained that the over the past months, the Province and City have been involved in an extensive community engagement process in Manenberg and have compiled a Community Action Plan (CAP) and Public Investment Framework (PIF).

“We want to help make the residents’ dream a reality. With these plans, we are re-imagining the suburb as a connected place of safe streets, innovative education facilities, excellent public healthcare, and opportunities for training, skills development and small business,” Zille continued. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)


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