A Decade On: Promised Klipfontein Regional Hospital Remains Unbuilt

It has been a full decade since the historic GF Jooste Hospital was razed to the ground, a move that had the community of Manenberg and its surrounding areas in Cape Town reeling from the loss. Promises of a new Klipfontein Regional Hospital that would stand in its stead, championed by the DA-led Western Cape government, have remained unfulfilled, leaving a void where once stood a community's health lifeline.

Established in 1974, GF Jooste Hospital wasn't merely a structure; it was a beacon of hope for many. With the expansion to a trauma emergency hospital in 1996, it offered crucial medical services from medical and surgical wards to a high-care unit and operating theatres. Its Rape Crisis Centre, opened in 2000, played a pivotal role in securing convictions, while the outpatient department and the infectious disease clinic, inaugurated by Nelson Mandela in 2003, exemplified the hospital's comprehensive approach to healthcare.

This center of healing serviced a swath of communities: from Manenberg to Khayelitsha, Philippi, Crossroads, Mandalay, Heideveld, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, to Gugulethu. However, all that remains now is debris and disappointment—a stark reminder of the grandiose plans that never came to fruition despite millions being earmarked by the national government.

The palpable sense of loss reverberates through the words of 53-year-old Ilanza Burt, a grandmother and former patient. The absence of GF Jooste Hospital has imposed significant strains on nearby health facilities like Heideveld, which are struggling to cope with the increased demand.

The community's disillusionment is echoed by Roegshanda Pascoe, a local activist. She recalls the fundamental role the hospital played amid emergencies—serving as a critical first contact point for the community. The demolition of a sponsored auditorium, not more than five years old, makes the situation even more distressing.

An inspection by ANC health spokesperson Rachel Windvogel paints a dismal picture of the proposed site: a dusty cement mixer, a decrepit office, and mere bricks are all that mark the spot. Windvogel's visit followed the shocking revelation that despite an allocation of R24 million by the National Treasury since 2019, not a single cent has been spent. She laments the absence of political will to drive the project forward.

Counteracting the despair, Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Dwayne Evans insists that the project is in progress but admits it's still at a conceptual phase. Delays due to the cancellation and re-advertisement of the professional services providers tender have certainly not helped.

The urgency for this new hospital cannot be overstated, as it is expected to lighten the load on multiple facilities across Cape Town. From Groote Schuur to the Red Cross Children's Hospital and the Mowbray Maternity, the proposed regional hospital promises to enhance the medical landscape considerably.

Despite the envisioned benefits, residents have little to celebrate at the moment. The expected construction start date, ambitiously set for August 2028, provides a bleak outlook—a far cry from the immediacy that the dismantled Jooste's presence commanded.

The story of the Klipfontein Regional Hospital is one of hope deferred, as a community awaits the delivery of a decade-long promise. The impasse embodies more than the unfortunately all-too-common tale of political inertia—it signifies a tangible detriment to public health, community trust, and the welfare of tens of thousands who once relied on a now-lost icon of local healthcare.